MENTONE – What happened at the March Mentone Town Council meeting should never happen again, councilwoman Jill Gross said at the start of Monday’s meeting. “Last month’s meeting, March meeting, got out of hand and was embarrassing to the whole town and to the council. I’m not saying who was right, who was wrong; the information that was given, right or wrong. It should not ever happen again. It has to be handled differently,” Gross said. “I agree,” council president Tim Croy said. Gross continued, “We are to represent the town, not just the people in this building, and it was horrible.” Town Marshal Jim Eads and Councilwoman Shelly Krueger got into a heated exchange for most of the length of the March meeting, after Krueger asked the other two councilmen if they had any comments on the town employee policies she was working on and Eads asked for a copy of the policies. Last night, after Gross’s comments, Eads said, “On that side of it, Jill, for the town council here, I apologize for my part of that.” Gross said she appreciated that, and Krueger said thanks. Rodney Bays, sitting in the audience, then also apologized for “being an idiot as well” for something that happened outside the meeting. “That needs to be discussed, too, but not here,” Gross responded. “Anytime you want, just let me know,” Bays said. “I appreciate that, too, because it just got – the whole thing was very embarrassing,” Gross said. “I had people say they should come to the town board meeting – they don’t want to be involved because of all the idiotic things that were said before, after and during.” Bays said last month’s meeting wasn’t the first that “went south like that. It’s been several over the last five or six years since I’ve been from this area.” Bays and Gross agreed they would discuss it later. Krueger then presented more information Monday on the town employee policies she is working on. She gave copies to the council, clerk-treasurer Barb Ross, town attorney Larry Beeson and Eads. She said she wasn’t sure if some of the things in the draft policy were needed. “Anything you see in there that can be added, I would appreciate it, because it all deals with law enforcement,” Krueger said. She said they could get back to her with their comments and suggestions, and she would like to have it finished up by the May 4 meeting. In other business: • Krueger announced the Farmers Market will open May 9. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon, and there are no fees to set up a booth. Any new vendors will have to fill out a one-time form, and they can contact Krueger by calling her cell at 574-606-7549; home phone, 574-353-8105; email at 5k5196@yahoo.com; or at the Bell Memorial Public Library. Forms are available at the library or Krueger can email a form to anyone. She said the Farmers Market will be open for the Egg Festival. It will be set up on the empty lot where the old dentist office was in town on Main Street. • Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd said the gardens are ready at the community garden area. Anyone interested in a garden should contact Ron Scott. He also asked to purchase a couple trail cameras for about $200 and a Steele power sweep for $511. The council approved the purchases. • Croy said May 13 will be the town’s spring clean-up trash day for large items. Eads said Ross has a list in her office of items that will not be accepted. Croy also said on May 24, Bell Museum is bringing back a Memorial Day program to the cemetery at 2 p.m. “Since it hasn’t gone on for a couple of years, they’re trying to find out any veterans that were buried in the cemetery. And if anybody knows of anybody, family member, that was or was omitted from the last one where they read all the names, they can contact Linda Cochran at 353-7113, or Marsha Scott at 353-7460, so they can try to get those on the list,” Croy said.
