MENTONE - Even though the county reworked a tile in Mentone, several residents told the town board Monday night that there's still a flooding issue.
Matt and Heidi Baker live on Franklin Street. They said the flooding issue is on the northwest part of town and it affects their property.Utilities Superintendent Eric Carlin said the county reworked the tile up there, and they even helped the county. As far as the county goes, Carlin said, he didn't think they were going to do any more work on the flooding issue.
"So that's a complete fix even though it's still flooding?" Matt Baker asked.
Carlin said the water runoff from Mentone Elementary and the pond behind the school both dump into the tile. The school helped and put a gate valve on its problem, but there's still too much water.
The water does go down faster, Heidi Baker said, but that's all they can say about the county fix.
Town Board President Tim Croy said that every time anyone gets water on their property, call the county. That's what got the county to respond last time was all the phone calls. He said it's not a town tile so there was not much the town could do about it.
The county said they only have money to maintain the tile, Carlin said, not to upgrade it.
If it helps, Matt Baker said, he was willing to run a petition to get the county to fix the problem.
According to what the neighbors told her, Heidi Baker said, the farmer who previously owned land just north of their property had to dig a ditch to control the flooding. Now that ditch is filled in so the water just "floods down on us," she said.
Croy said Midwest Poultry used to own the field to the north, and when they had the egg-processing plant there, built a dike along there to help their neighbors. Now that Midwest Poultry is no longer there, Croy said, the ditch is not there.
Also experiencing flooding problems are Russell and Retha Hart and John Hart.
Russell said before the new septic system was put in, they didn't have the water come within 5 to 6 feet of their property. Now, it wraps around their property.
Consequently, Russell said, their house now has mold and it may be the cause of his health problems.
Croy told the Harts what he told the Bakers. It's a county tile, funded by the county. He suggested that they, too, contact the county every time they have a problem. Also, they should let the county know about the mold problem the flooding has created.
Carlin suggested having Kosciusko County Surveyor Dick Kemper attend the August meeting to discuss the flooding issue. Croy said it was a good idea. If someone from the county surveyor's office will attend the meeting, Croy said, he will contact all the residents having the flooding problem to attend the August meeting.
John Hart said he talked to Kemper. He said he was told the county tile is clean and the problem now is the town's.
"They said that a long time ago," said Barb Ross, town clerk-treasurer.
Jack Simpson, councilman, said the pond is 4 feet higher than it's supposed to be, according to a survey the town previously had done.
"I'm sure if the county guys lived next door to you, they would have fixed the problem," said Croy. "... We appreciate what they did, we just wish they would have done a little more."
At the June meeting, Mentone resident Amy Dickerhoff asked if the town could see if the state would lower the speed limit on Ind. 19S.
Carlin checked into it, and received an e-mail response from Dana Plattner, district traffic engineer, Indiana Department of Transportation, Fort Wayne District.
Plattner's response was that "the same citizen approached INDOT a few months ago. We subsequently conducted a speed study to determine if a speed reduction is warranted. According to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which is the 'Bible' of traffic engineering, speed limits should be established within 5 mph of the 85th percentile speed. Based on our speed checks in the area, the 85th percentile speed near the area in question was 46 mph. Therefore, an extension of the 30 mph is not possible. Increased enforcement of the existing speed limits should be stressed if there would be hope of lowering the speed limit in the future."
Ross said several people have called her in regards to portable fire pits. They want to know if they are permitted and do they have to have a permit every time they use one.
Croy said he didn't think they have to have a permit. But, Town Marshal Jim Eads said the ordinance says they're suppose to have a permit every time they use one. If someone complains about it, they have to put it out, even if they have a permit. The permit only lets the town know they are going to have a fire.
Croy suggested they look into the ordinance further and see what it says. Until the town is clear on the issue, Croy suggested anyone wanting to have a fire should continue to get permits.
Eads provided the six-month police department report for January through July. There were 382 incidents, with 110 cases, 52 of which were major.
Fifty-eight people were arrested, with 48 being adults and 10 juveniles.
During those six months, there were 88 uniform traffic tickets, with 86 being traffic-related and two ordinance violations. Of the 139 warnings handed out, 86 were traffic related and 53 were ordinance violations. The police department also handled 19 lock outs and 15 accidents.
Carlin presented a quote for the paving of four alleys for $20,200, which the town council approved. The alleys to be paved includes the alley between Broadway and Morgan streets; north/south alley that runs by the church; east/west alley behind the funeral home and the north/south alley that intersects.
Ross said Carlin has $15,000 in the motor vehicle highway fund and $6,000 in the cumulative capital improvement fund to use for the alley paving.
Croy said he wants to get moving forward on the house at 412 N. Broadway St. While the yard has finally been mowed, he said the house is still "crappy." Town attorney Larry Beeson said he hasn't given it the attention it deserves yet, but it's on his list. "They'll have a notice to be here by the next meeting," he said.
Croy also said the Day of Caring in Mentone is Aug. 26. It's for residents who live in Mentone or the surrounding areas, specifically senior citizens, disabled and low-income families.
The deadline for submitting applications to receive help is July 17. Applications can be faxed to 574-269-3713, or mailed to P.O. Box 923, Warsaw, IN 46581-0923. Applications are available at the clerk-treasurer's office, Java Jacks or by contacting Croy at 574-353-8196. The United Way telephone number is 574-269-2592.
