Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - Donations are still being sought for the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building, Jill Gross told the Mentone Town Board Monday.
Gross told the board the goal for donations for the building has not been met. Fireman Mike Yazel said the project is about $70,000 short. Because more soil preparation was required than expected, the cost of the project increased.
"Anyone willing to donate would be greatly appreciated," said Yazel.
Donations can be delivered to the ambulance service, fire department or to the clerk's office.
The Mentone Community Emergency Services Building project began in 1996. State and federal grants were pursued, but most such grants require matching funds which were not available. Harrison Township, the town council, the fire control board and other agencies got together and looked at financing. They discovered they were short on funds so they had to work with each other to come up with the money. It was decided a new town hall, fire station, ambulance service and police department would be built downtown on the site of the existing town hall.
The project is expected to be completed in about eight weeks. Yazel suggested a possible open house may be held before the project is finished to show the town the work and to solicit donations. Another possible fundraiser might include a fish fry with the cost being a donation to the project.
In another emergency services-related matter, Mentone Fire Department Chief Butch Warren spoke up against charging other towns for water the Mentone Fire Department uses to assist other towns with fires. The matter was brought up at the January town board meeting. Mentone has mutual aid agreements with other nearby towns. If Mentone charges other departments for water used, the other towns then would charge Mentone when they assist Mentone with extinguishing fires, said Warren.
"I don't feel we should charge anyone," said Tim Croy, town board president.
Frank Hardesty said it was a petty situation. Other towns don't charge Mentone, Mentone shouldn't charge other towns. He said the cost of water should not be put ahead of saving people's lives and properties.
Warren said if they started charging for water, "you're opening a can of worms."
"The cost of water is nil here," said Hardesty.
Roger Long, town board member, said Indiana is one of the wettest states around and water shouldn't be an issue. If Mentone started charging for water, they'd lose assistance from other towns when they have a fire.
Town board member Jack Simpson was the only one at the meeting who spoke in favor of charging for the water. However, by the end of the discussion, he made the motion to keep things as they currently are and not to charge other towns for the water used by the Mentone Fire Department. The motion passed unanimously.
In other business, the town board:
• Heard from utilities superintendent Brian Reed that two quotes were received for the water tower inspection. The quotes included a bid of $2,180 from Dixon Engineering and a bid of $2,795 from Norman Noe Co. Reed is attending a conference later this month where he may be able to solicit more bids, but will make a recommendation to the town board at its March meeting.
• Jerry Hudson, North Tucker Street, told the board that when it rains, there's a large amount of standing water on the sidewalk near his residence. He also said a home to the west of his property on Jackson Street has a large pile-up of trash that the town needs to address. Another vacant house in town has litter strewn about.
Regarding the standing water problem, street superintendent Darrell Miller said, "We'll see what we can do." Town Marshal Jim Eads said he would look into the trash issues.
• Robert Andrews told the board that he and his wife wanted to "praise Reed and the town guys. We think they do an excellent job."
He then commented about a vacant property at 205 S. Oak St. that has an abandoned boat on the property as well as tires with standing water in them. There's also a barn with trash in it often visited by animals. He asked that something be done about that property, which allegedly is in foreclosure and has two mortgages against it.
Croy said they'd check into it and see who to contact to get the property cleaned up.
• Approved the contract with the street department to mow the cemetery and park.
• Reappointed Roger Moriarty to the library board for a second term.
Mentone Town Board members are Tim Croy, president; Jack Simpson; and Roger Long. Their regular meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of every month.
