Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - Closing on the land for the proposed new fire station is tentatively set for next week.
Harrison Township Trustee/Assessor Jim Moyer told the Mentone Town Council during its meeting Monday night that he received correspondence from the attorney representing the land owner and, "if all is in order," closing will be at 10:30 a.m. March 14 at Bodkin Abstract Co. Inc. in Warsaw.
The property is being purchased from Lela Stein of Fort Wayne for $22,000. The eight town lots total 1.8 acres.
The Mentone Tri-County Fire Control Board will be the owner of the property, located at the southwest intersection of Ind. 19 and Walnut Street.
Once the land purchase is made the fire control board plans to apply for building construction grants. The plan to build a new fire station came about, officials said, because the current site is too small to house the department's equipment and expansion is limited because the area is landlocked.
In other business, council members Ed Rock and Ed Lamar accepted copies of a citation recently presented to Wayne Tombaugh by the General Assembly. Tombaugh was recognized for his service as an "outstanding community leader," including serving 64 years as his precinct's committeeman.
"I wonder where the town of Mentone would be without people like this gentleman here," said Rock. "You've done things in this town that people probably haven't even noticed ... and we appreciate it."
In other matters, the council:
• Gave utilities superintendent Brian Reed permission to submit a sealed bid for the purchase of a 1974 Case backhoe. If the town is the successful bidder, the equipment would replace a 1960s-model International with a backhoe add-on that the town has owned for about 30 years.
• Approved a bid from Kessler Tank Co. for $9,936 for interior and exterior maintenance on the water tower. Kessler's bid was the lowest of four submitted for the work.
• Accepted and tabled bids for mowing the town park and cemetery. The council will meet at 6 p.m. March 19 to review and discuss the bids and to make a determination whether the town will hire someone to do the work or continue to have the mowing done by town employees.
• Increased mileage payments from 25 cents per mile to 32 cents per mile and voted to match whatever rate the county pays from this point forward. The federal mileage allowance is 38 cents per mile.
• Instructed town attorney Larry Beeson to write letters to two property owners in town that have unsightly or dangerous conditions existing on the lots. One of the properties is on Ind. 19S and the other is on Main Street.
The Mentone Town Council meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of each month in the town hall. Council members are president Ed Rock, Ed Lamar and Mike Diemer.
