MENTONE - Krystal Lybarger gave a report on the new playground equipment at Mentzer Memorial Park to the Mentone Town Council Monday.
She said she received the invoice for $47,000. The funding is only $250 short, but the Lions Club guaranteed $300 after their sausage sale."I think we have the funds for the playground covered," Lybarger said.
She said it should be completed by Wednesday, weather permitting.
"We really appreciate your hard work on this, too," Tim Croy, council president, told Lybarger.
Croy also said he wanted to raise the water deposit fee from $50 to $100 effective immediately. The council approved the increase.
In other business:
n Hydrants in Mentone will be flushed April 9-10. Residents should refrain from doing laundry while the hydrants are being flushed.
n Indiana Department of Transportation will close the railroad crossings on Ind. 19 and 25 from 9 a.m. April 16 to 4 p.m. April 27 for reasphalting. Traffic will be rerouted and signs will be posted.
n Spring cleanup is May 9.
n The deadline for people to clean up graves at the cemetery is April 15. Anything remaining there after April 15 will be thrown away.
n The town council scheduled an executive session with the police department personnel at 6:30 p.m. April 23.
n Town Marshall Jim Eads said the handicapped buttons for the front entry of the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building will be $2,990. Specialty Entrance Technology Co. will install the buttons, and the equipment is from Gyro-Tech. The cost will be shared between the town and Tri-Township Fire Control Board.
"Butch (Warren) and I will put in the needed wiring so there won't be any expense there," Eads said.
The January police department report indicated the department handled 21 incidents, 15 cases, and arrested four adults. Reserves worked a total of 62.25 hours.
n Linda Carr presented the town with an estimate from Miller Construction for sidewalk repair. She will present the town with an estimate for curb repair later. The town's 50/50 sidewalk repair program allows residents to have the town pay for half of the cost of sidewalk repair if an estimated is presented first and if the town has the funding. Carr's estimate is $830, so Mentone will pay $415 for her sidewalk repair.
Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross told Carr she may have to wait until 2008 for the curb repair due to funding.
n Melanie Lowman, of 107 N. Yale St., reported the alley behind her garage is all grass and her vehicle gets stuck in it. She asked if the town could do something to fix the problem.
Darrell Miller, street department, said, "We'll look into that alley. Probably no complexity to doing it." He said they have a stock pile of limestone and probably is what they will use.
n Croy asked Miller if the utilities department wanted to get the fluoride going again in the town's water. Miller said they should, and all they needed to do was get back online.
"It'll take us a little work to get it going," said Eric Carlin, utilities department.
Croy said the town may not have a lot of money to spend, so Miller should look into the cost and let the council know more at the May meeting.
n Miller reported he has three part-timers lined up to help with the town's mowing this year. They are very flexible and part time.
The Mentone Town Council includes Croy, Jack Simpson and Roger Long.
