Mentone Wrestles With Tight Budget
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Town Clerk-Treasurer Barbara Ross told the town council that tax statements did not go out as scheduled, and it was uncertain when they would go out, so no money will be available to the town until she didn't know when.
Tim Croy, council president, told everyone to pinch their pennies.[[In-content Ad]]With the fuel prices also going up, Croy told the town employees not to use town vehicles for personal use. Town Marshall Jim Eads asked if that was a change and if it included hauling family members. Croy said it was, and the cut down needs to be done to save on expenses and liability.
Eads said the police department is trying to save on fuel, too.
Jack Simpson, town councilman, said it is a possibility the town won't get any tax draw until September or October.
To save on fuel, Croy also told the police department to stay close to town. Eads said he thinks they do.
Town attorney Larry Beeson reported he is still working on the Herschel Linn property, which is the old Sinclair Station on Ind. 25 across from the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building.
Beeson said attorney Vern Landis handled the estate previously. Landis talked to Linn's closest heir, Steve Miller, and Miller wants to cooperate with transferring the property over to the town, Beeson said.
He said the estate will be reopened so the property can be conveyed to the town.
The town also will have to wait for the brownfield grant from the state, and for the state to clean up the property. Beeson said the town will not have to provide matching funds.
At some point, Beeson said the town will have to send a letter stating the town will be acquiring the property. Beeson said the town won't take the title to the property until it is cleaned up.
Beeson also reported he sent a letter to Eddie Tridle in regards to Tridle's unsafe house on the corner of Monroe and Oak streets. Beeson said he checked out the property on his way to Monday's meeting and saw that the windows were boarded up. The property now looks worse than before, Beeson said. He asked the town council what they wanted him to tell Tridle.
"Tear it down," said Simpson. He said the property is totally unsatisfactory, the whole thing.
If the town wants to condemn the property, Croy asked Beeson what they had to do.
"I don't know those steps off the top off my head," said Beeson, but he will look into it.
In other business, the town council:
n Approved the purchase of a central air unit at the wastewater treatment plant from Elliott's for $3,250. The other bid was from Alpha Omega for $3,969.
The current central air unit doesn't work at all, according to Utilities Superintendent Eric Carlin. The lab at the treatment plant has to have a controlled environment.
n Discussed increasing the water disconnect fee from $15 to $25. Carlin will look at the fees other places charge and report back to the board at a later time.
n Approved the vacation of Elm Street from Main Street (Ind. 25) to the Bell Museum.
n Heard the police department's report for April. There were 62 incidents, 23 cases and 10 were major cases. Sixteen adults were arrested, as well as one juvenile. One arrest was a felony.
Twenty-two traffic-related uniform traffic tickets were handed out, as well as 43 traffic-related warnings and three ordinance violations.
Twelve warrants were served, and there were two lockouts and three accidents. Reserves worked a total of 169 hours.
Eads reported the department's other two reserves graduate Saturday from the Reserve Academy.
n Approved to change the yield sign at the intersection of North Walnut Street and West Jackson Street to a stop sign.
n Heard from Carlin that he talked to the consultant from Verizon regarding the cell phone tower site. The consultant thinks the well site on Ind. 19 would be the best place for a tower, and Carlin agreed. Carlin said he is waiting to hear back from Verizon.
Carlin also reported if residents could bag their leaves and grass clippings, that would be helpful for clean up.
Croy said May 14 is spring cleanup. Items should be placed on the tree lawn, not on the street, he said.
Members of the town council are Croy, Simpson and Jill Gross. Their regular meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of every month in the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building.
Town Clerk-Treasurer Barbara Ross told the town council that tax statements did not go out as scheduled, and it was uncertain when they would go out, so no money will be available to the town until she didn't know when.
Tim Croy, council president, told everyone to pinch their pennies.[[In-content Ad]]With the fuel prices also going up, Croy told the town employees not to use town vehicles for personal use. Town Marshall Jim Eads asked if that was a change and if it included hauling family members. Croy said it was, and the cut down needs to be done to save on expenses and liability.
Eads said the police department is trying to save on fuel, too.
Jack Simpson, town councilman, said it is a possibility the town won't get any tax draw until September or October.
To save on fuel, Croy also told the police department to stay close to town. Eads said he thinks they do.
Town attorney Larry Beeson reported he is still working on the Herschel Linn property, which is the old Sinclair Station on Ind. 25 across from the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building.
Beeson said attorney Vern Landis handled the estate previously. Landis talked to Linn's closest heir, Steve Miller, and Miller wants to cooperate with transferring the property over to the town, Beeson said.
He said the estate will be reopened so the property can be conveyed to the town.
The town also will have to wait for the brownfield grant from the state, and for the state to clean up the property. Beeson said the town will not have to provide matching funds.
At some point, Beeson said the town will have to send a letter stating the town will be acquiring the property. Beeson said the town won't take the title to the property until it is cleaned up.
Beeson also reported he sent a letter to Eddie Tridle in regards to Tridle's unsafe house on the corner of Monroe and Oak streets. Beeson said he checked out the property on his way to Monday's meeting and saw that the windows were boarded up. The property now looks worse than before, Beeson said. He asked the town council what they wanted him to tell Tridle.
"Tear it down," said Simpson. He said the property is totally unsatisfactory, the whole thing.
If the town wants to condemn the property, Croy asked Beeson what they had to do.
"I don't know those steps off the top off my head," said Beeson, but he will look into it.
In other business, the town council:
n Approved the purchase of a central air unit at the wastewater treatment plant from Elliott's for $3,250. The other bid was from Alpha Omega for $3,969.
The current central air unit doesn't work at all, according to Utilities Superintendent Eric Carlin. The lab at the treatment plant has to have a controlled environment.
n Discussed increasing the water disconnect fee from $15 to $25. Carlin will look at the fees other places charge and report back to the board at a later time.
n Approved the vacation of Elm Street from Main Street (Ind. 25) to the Bell Museum.
n Heard the police department's report for April. There were 62 incidents, 23 cases and 10 were major cases. Sixteen adults were arrested, as well as one juvenile. One arrest was a felony.
Twenty-two traffic-related uniform traffic tickets were handed out, as well as 43 traffic-related warnings and three ordinance violations.
Twelve warrants were served, and there were two lockouts and three accidents. Reserves worked a total of 169 hours.
Eads reported the department's other two reserves graduate Saturday from the Reserve Academy.
n Approved to change the yield sign at the intersection of North Walnut Street and West Jackson Street to a stop sign.
n Heard from Carlin that he talked to the consultant from Verizon regarding the cell phone tower site. The consultant thinks the well site on Ind. 19 would be the best place for a tower, and Carlin agreed. Carlin said he is waiting to hear back from Verizon.
Carlin also reported if residents could bag their leaves and grass clippings, that would be helpful for clean up.
Croy said May 14 is spring cleanup. Items should be placed on the tree lawn, not on the street, he said.
Members of the town council are Croy, Simpson and Jill Gross. Their regular meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of every month in the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building.
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