MENTONE – During the Mentone Town Council meeting Monday night, town residents were reminded of ways to help the town and keep it clean.
Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd said the town brush pile is for brush only.
“It’s ridiculous what we get out there,” he said.
People have put everything from showers to bicycles in the brush pile, he said. While he would hate to put a fence up around the brush pile, he said it needs to be controlled. There is a sign up, but it obviously doesn’t keep people from putting other stuff in the brush pile.
“We don’t mind wood as long as there are no nails in it,” Shepherd said.
Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross told the council they needed to establish spring cleanup.
Mentone Days is June 1-2. Tim Croy, council president, suggested spring cleanup should be two weeks prior to Mentone Days, so it was set for May 16.
Shelly Krueger, town councilwoman, said the Mentone Farmers Market will open for the season May 12 from 8 a.m. to noon.
“New vendors are always welcome,” said Krueger.
There is no fee to set up, but new vendors must fill out a form. Krueger is at the market every week and will have copies of the form with her.
Croy said if any town residents wanted a garden spot by the treatment plant, they can contact Ron Scott at 574-353-7460 so Scott can start a list.
After reviewing the police department hours with Operation Pull Over and the officers’ regular hours with Town Marshal Jim Eads, Croy said they “can’t find any discrepancies at all.”
He said he knows people have questioned officers’ time, but they didn’t find anything wrong. Croy said the council wasn’t going to discuss the matter any further for at least another six months.
Also during that investigation, Croy said they found the Mentone Police Department is ranked third in the county for taking the most drunk drivers off the road.
“I really appreciate that, too,” Croy said.
There have been some complaints about officers tagging abandoned vehicles. Croy said the council makes the police department do that and he posted the town ordinance regarding abandoned vehicles in the front lobby of the community building.
According to a copy of the town ordinance, “No person shall abandon any vehicle within the town and no person shall leave any vehicle at any place within the town for such a time and under such circumstances as to cause such vehicle reasonably to appear to have been abandoned.”
It also states, “No person shall leave any partially dismantled, non-operating, wrecked or junked vehicle on any street or highway within the town.”
Abandoned or junked vehicles must be moved within 48 hours on property within the town. The town marshall, Kosciusko County sheriff or deputies are authorized to remove or have removed any vehicle in violation of the town ordinance.
“Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a violation and shall be fined in an amount not exceeding $100. Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such hereunder,” the ordinance states.
Croy said the police department is next tackling overgrown lawns and weeds in the town.
“If we let one go, we have to let them all go,” Croy said as to why the town ordinance is enforced with everyone.
The council also approved the new KC Online contract for three years.
At the February meeting, KC Online representatives asked the council to renew the contract for Internet service on the water tower for five years at $1,200 per year. Croy asked them to increase the amount to $400 per month, but KC Online balked. The council agreed to keep the $1,200 per year, but reduce the contract from five years to three years.
Ross requested permission to adjust some dead utility accounts off the computer. They totaled $2,500.
When Gross asked if most of the people were gone, Croy said they were. The council approved for Ross to make the adjustments.
The council also agreed to join the Chamber of Commerce for a cost of $35 per year. Croy said it would be a way for the council to keep in touch with the Chamber.
Ross said she receives calls occasionally from insurance companies wanting to quote or bid on the town’s insurance. She asked the council what they wanted her to tell them.
Croy said bidding out is nice sometimes, but he was happy with what the town currently has.
Ross will tell future callers that the town currently is not accepting quotes or bids on insurance.
Croy thanked Bill Wohead for letting the town move the recycle bins to the northwest corner at the Mentone Agri site.
