MENTONE - Anyone seeking assistance from the Harrison Township trustee may soon have to work for it.

Jim Moyer, Harrison Township trustee, said one of his duties is to administer the township assistance program. As part of the program, he can require recipients to work for the benefits. He said he wants any resident of Harrison Township who requests the assistance to work some of it off. It has been done elsewhere.

After speaking with street superintendent Darrel Miller, Moyer said they agreed it was a reasonable idea. The workers would have to be supervised. He asked if the town council was interested in allowing the township to implement the idea.

He expects 25 people per year to participate. There is no set pay, but that would have to be worked out with the township board based on how much assistance a person receives. No labor costs would be involved for the town and the participating individuals would have to provide their own transportation and meals. Materials and equipment could be provided by the town.

"I think it's a good idea," said councilman Tim Croy. The council approved for Moyer to go forward with the program.

"We'll get started and see how it works out," Moyer said.

In other business, the town council:

• Approved the utility department's bid to mow the cemetery and park for $7,500 for the year.

• Heard the cable company, Galaxy, has been sold to Longview Communications from Virginia. Galaxy had filed for bankruptcy. The town will receive $2,200 for the franchise fee. According to clerk-treasurer Barbara Ross, the cable company probably still owes the town lot rent.

Councilman Mark Hughes said the cable company should be invited to the May meeting to explain their plans. If another cable company wants to come in, "now would be a good time," said Hughes.

The council signed the consent form to receive the $2,200 but did not sign the cable franchise agreement.

• Heard from Hughes that until the day care begins at the library, the town is not eligible for any more state grants.

• Heard from Ross that decorations at the cemetery must be removed by April 19.

• Announced the town clean-up day is May 21.

• Decided to continue the 50/50 sidewalk program. Anyone is interested in participating should contact the clerk-treasurer's office for more information before hiring a contractor.

• Approved for three street department employees to travel to Indianapolis April 19 to receive certification for chemical spraying (for mosquitoes) at a cost of $50 per person.

• Approved the placement of a "no parking" sign in the alley by the liquor store and a "no through road" sign by the bridge by the cemetery.

• Approved to hold an executive session on personnel matters at 6 p.m. May 3.

Mentone town councilmen are Tim Croy, chairman Mark Hughes and Jack Simpson, who was not present Monday. They meet at 7 p.m. in the town hall, Mentone, on the first Monday of every month.

• Town may raise sewer rates

MENTONE - Because of financial troubles with Mentone's sewer fund, the town may need to increase its sewer rates.

"We're just eking by," said town clerk-treasurer Barbara Ross Monday of the fund. "We have a balance, but it is getting depleted."

At the town council meeting Monday, council chairman Mark Hughes asked how the town got to this stage.

Ross replied she did not know. "It was not brought to anyone's attention, I guess," she said.

Approximately six years ago when the town had a sewer project, the rates went down. Meanwhile, the expenses went up.

Before the town can change the rates, Ross said, they likely will need a water and sewer rate study conducted. Hughes said they might as well begin the process and Ross should contact Umbaugh & Associates about doing such a study.

Ross said a study likely will take several months.

To help maintain the fund until the study could be completed, Hughes and councilman Tim Croy agreed to consider a resolution next month to move $25,000 from the sewer depreciation fund to the sewer fund for operating expenses.

Ross also presented the council with a list of people who are overdue on their utility bills.

Some of the people with past due bills no longer live in town. Overdue bills range from $4 to more than $150. Some bills, Ross said, are more than 90 days old.

Councilman Tim Croy said the town needs to collect what it can. He made a motion for Ross to collect whatever she could, using a collection agency if feasible.

Ross said if necessary, a lien could be used against a person for overdue sewer bills but not overdue water bills. [[In-content Ad]]