MENTONE - Tim Carter, owner of the Bulldog Saloon in Mentone, thinks a beer tent will help the Egg Festival grow.
Monday night, he proposed to the town council to have one at the old Broadway tower location during this year's Egg Festival June 5-6. Councilmen Tim Croy and Jill Gross said they would look into it and make a decision at their meeting May 4. Councilman Jack Simpson was not at Monday's meeting, and Croy and Gross also want his input before a decision is made.
Carter said he would have security and a fence around the entire tent. Everyone would be carded before they entered the tent. To get a beer or wine, a person would have to purchase tokens and then turn in the tokens for a drink. All drinks would be served in plastic, and no glass would be used, Carter said.
Only people 21 years old and older would be served alcohol, of course, he said, and they would have to wear a wrist band. A licensed bartender would serve all drinks.
Carter said he'd also like to have music and karaoke in the tent each night. The tent and music would end at 1 a.m. Saturday morning, and midnight Sunday morning.
He said he would do all the advertising for the beer tent. The beer tent, he said, is just a new way to make the Egg Festival better.
"Small towns are dying," Carter said. "If we don't find new ways to get people in, we'll be in the same boat."
He said the location would be up to the town council, but he had some ideas, including the old Broadway tower location.
Croy told Carter they wouldn't make any decision last night, and they wanted Simpson in on the decision. He said they wanted to look at locations and check into liability insurance.
Carter said he would get the insurance himself. "I'm not going to stick my neck out without insurance," he said.
Croy asked Carter why he didn't have it at his business. Carter replied a beer tent would bring people in.
Croy said his biggest concern was having the beer tent next to the church's tent. He said he didn't want them to feel pushed out.
Town Marshal Jim Eads clarified that it wasn't the church's tent, it was the Chamber of Commerce's tent. They only have it for one day.
Carter said it will take some time to get the beer tent put together, so the sooner the town council can make a decision, the better.
"If you can think of anything we're missing, let us know. We need to get on it pretty quick," Carter said.
Another idea for Mentone was proposed Monday by Ron Scott, a local Master Gardener. He suggested the town start up a community garden on town property. He said the town has the space near the wastewater treatment plant.
If the town couldn't start it up this year, Scott said, maybe it could be started up next year.
Gross said she thought it would be great if the town could get it started.
Scott said he found some rules for a community garden that could be used. Croy said he wanted to make sure anyone who participated knew, up front, that they would be gardening at their own risk.
"I don't think we have a problem with it if it's cleaned up and stuff," said Josh Shepherd, utilities department.
Town attorney Larry Beeson asked how much area was needed.
"Depends on how many people we get," said Scott.
"There's a lot of area out there," Croy responded.
Gross said the town could see how well the community garden goes the first year, and then change the rules as needed the second year. She made a motion to go ahead with the community garden this year and her motion was approved. Scott will work with Shepherd and Utilities Superintendent Eric Carlin on implementing the garden. Gross also told Scott to come back to the May 4th meeting and give the council an update.
In other business, the council:
n Heard from Troy Burgess that debris in the creek, east of Ind. 19, needs cleaned up. The problem area, he said, is between the cemetery and the youth league.
n Approved to transfer money to pay an invoice from Bonar Group for engineering work for $14,771.
n Announced spring clean-up will be May 20. Trash should not be piled up in the street, but put on the curb. Clerk-treasurer Barb Ross has a list of what items will be accepted.
n Heard from Shepherd that clean-up at the cemetery is beginning. Any items on graves that someone wants should be removed by April 15. Shepherd said, "Make sure you don't put anything in front of and behind monuments, for mowing purposes."
n Approved $2,000 for tree trimming at the cemetery.
n Heard fire hydrants will be flushed April 20-21.
n Tabled a hearing on Eddie Tridle's house on Main Street. Tridle has hired an attorney who needs more time to look into the matter. The town wants to condemn and eventually demolish Tridle's property, but Tridle contends he can fix it up.
n Held a special meeting prior to the regular meeting on two additional appropriations. Money will be transferred for wastewater treatment plant improvement project expenses, and includes $21,369.33 from the Rainy Day Fund and $22,609.29 from the Riverboat Fund. The council approved the two additional appropriations.
