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MENTONE - The private monetary support of the egg-shaped water tower will not affect future grants to the community.
Council member Forrest Kantner told the town council Monday that the Indiana Department of Commerce has approved the use of private funds for the egg.
Kantner said a letter from IDOC allows for use of grant money only for the purchase of a standard tank. Any additional costs caused by the change in shape would have to be covered by private supporters.
The egg-shaped tank "has nothing to do with future grants for the library," Kantner said.
An IDOC representative Kantner spoke with said community support of the tank may impress future grant givers.
The Mentone Chamber of Commerce, with chamber president Rita Price, has been soliciting donations for the egg.
In another water issue, council discussed altering its water meter deposit policy. Currently, new water users must pay $50 deposit for every meter listed in their name.
The pending policy would allow multiple water meter users to pay only one deposit. Rental owners would pay only one $50 deposit for an unlimited number of meters as long as they were charged to the same bill.
The policy change is pending further research by the town water utility manager.
In other business:
• Fire Chief Everett "Butch" Warren expressed concern about people parking in front of fire hydrants in town. Marshal Tim Carpenter said 15 feet of clearance is needed when parking near a hydrant.
• Carpenter said a lot of people are parking where they shouldn't be. The marshal warned that there will be an increased enforcement of traffic laws in Mentone.
• Council will allow 20 minutes at the beginning of every meeting for public input.
• Councilman Terry Reed scheduled a personnel meeting for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27. Reed suggested that the last Thursday of every month be used for closed-door personnel meetings.
