Mentone Has Meeting To Discuss Budgeting Parameters For Park

December 19, 2023 at 6:50 p.m.
The Mentone Town Council heard a presentation given by grant administrator Zach Dripps at their special meeting on Monday. Photo by Brianna Pitts, InkFreeNews
The Mentone Town Council heard a presentation given by grant administrator Zach Dripps at their special meeting on Monday. Photo by Brianna Pitts, InkFreeNews

By Brianna Pitts, InkFreeNews

MENTONE — Mentone Town Council held a special meeting on Monday to discuss budgeting parameters for their future park.
The council met with representatives Zach Dripps from Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) and Magdalena Aravena from Troyer Group. Dripps serves the council as their grant administrator while Aravena works as their design consultant.
In the meeting, the council discussed whether to save some American Rescue Plan Act funds for a later project or to spend all of what they had into the park project. This discussion came after a presentation from Dripps posing this question to the council. Ultimately, the council decided to put all of their ARPA funds into the park due to them having to allocate the funds by 2025 and spend them by 2026.
The council approved allocating the estimated funds into their budgeting plan:
• $250,000 to the building of the pavilion
• $25,000 to lighting and security
• $30,000 to the resurfacing and new equipment of basketball hoops
• $45,000 for the paved sidewalks throughout the park
• $60,000 to the building of the bridge deck
• $170,000 to the playground equipment
In the planning, the council has included a disc golf course and pickleball courts, however, they moved to not include those in the current budget.
The next regular meeting will be Jan. 3 with a public hearing held prior to the meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Mentone Town Hall.

MENTONE — Mentone Town Council held a special meeting on Monday to discuss budgeting parameters for their future park.
The council met with representatives Zach Dripps from Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) and Magdalena Aravena from Troyer Group. Dripps serves the council as their grant administrator while Aravena works as their design consultant.
In the meeting, the council discussed whether to save some American Rescue Plan Act funds for a later project or to spend all of what they had into the park project. This discussion came after a presentation from Dripps posing this question to the council. Ultimately, the council decided to put all of their ARPA funds into the park due to them having to allocate the funds by 2025 and spend them by 2026.
The council approved allocating the estimated funds into their budgeting plan:
• $250,000 to the building of the pavilion
• $25,000 to lighting and security
• $30,000 to the resurfacing and new equipment of basketball hoops
• $45,000 for the paved sidewalks throughout the park
• $60,000 to the building of the bridge deck
• $170,000 to the playground equipment
In the planning, the council has included a disc golf course and pickleball courts, however, they moved to not include those in the current budget.
The next regular meeting will be Jan. 3 with a public hearing held prior to the meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Mentone Town Hall.

Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Warsaw Wins 3-0, Heads To Sectional Final
Getting the bye in the seven-team boys soccer sectional at Huntington North, Warsaw began its playoff journey Wednesday evening against Columbia City. The Tigers got an early goal, added a few more along the way, looking dominant in a 3-0 win.

E. Coli, Safety Are Reasons For Pier Removal At Center Lake
The need to remove the concrete pier at Center Lake beach comes down to two reasons that aren’t new concerns: E. coli and safety.

Etna Green Council Approves Town’s 2025 Budget
ETNA GREEN — Etna Green is planning for a budget of more than $322,000 for 2025.

Winter Heating Bills Forecasted To Increase Compared To Last Year, NIPSCO Says
MERRILLVILLE – Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) LCC announced Wednesday that natural gas residential customers can expect an increase in their winter heating bills this season compared to last year.

South Whitley Town Council Accepts Bid For Downtown Buildings
SOUTH WHITLEY – At Tuesday night's meeting, the South Whitley Town Council accepted the only submitted bid for 206 and 208 S. State St. from Brian McCarty, pending a purchase agreement to be drawn up by town attorney Greg Hockemeyer.