MENTONE – Mentone Town Council approved a sewer rate increase ordinance Wednesday, which will go into effect immediately.
In February, Baker Tilly recommended to increase the rate by 41.18%.
If the sewer rate increases by 41.18%, the approximate average residential monthly bill would be $63.37. The current 4,000-gallon bill is $44.89. The change in the average monthly residential bill would be $18.48.
Before the council approved the ordinance, the council held a public hearing on it. There were no public comments.
The ordinance was approved 2-0 as Councilman Tim Croy was absent.
After the public hearing on the ordinance, the council held a second public hearing for the grant application for the downtown master plan.
Olivia Nix, community development planner with Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG), said she was assisting the town with the planning grant application for a COVID-19 economic development plan that is focusing on the downtown area.
In 2021, Kosciusko County was selected to participate in the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), she said. The towns of Pierceton, Mentone and Milford went on to participate the yearlong process of creating strategic investment plans, which is intended to help in creating a lasting legacy in the community.

    Pictured is the form residents need to fill out for Mentone’s lead service line inventory. Photo Provided.
  

Each community has been working with OCRA and MACOG to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding implementation.
Mentone is seeking a planning grant funded by OCRA aimed at things like economic development and housing projects. The town needs to submit their planning grant application by June 21.
The need of the applicant (MACOG) is to assist the town to develop a COVID economic recovery plan. That plan will serve as the strategic framework and roadmap to revitalize the local economy in the aftermath of the pandemic, Nix said.
The application will assist the town in preparing professional services to develop the plan for the downtown area, she said.
“The town will be rewarded the maximum amount allowable CDBG funds for this planning grant of $50,000,” Nix said. There is 10% local match for the grant.
Nix said the public hearing’s purpose was simply to outline the application process. There will be future public engagement as the firm is selected and the actual plan is developed.
The council approved the grant administration services agreement with MACOG.
In other business, the council:
• Learned Commonwealth handed out questionnaires for the town’s lead service line inventory. Clerk-Treasurer Amanda Yaprak said the deadline to have the surveys completed is July 15. Council President Jill Gross stressed the surveys need to be done. People can submit the forms with their utility bill or use the QR code on the form.
• Learned the Mentone Baker’s Market and Antique Fair has 25 vendors signed up. The first event will be June 28 with set-up starting at 4 p.m. and running from 5 to 8 p.m. It will be in the parking lot by Subway.
• Approved for Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd to hire a high schooler for the summer.
• Learned there were 79 participants for the Mentone Egg City 5K run and 1-mile walk during the Egg Festival this year.