MENTONE - Eric Carlin is Mentone's new utilities superintendent, and the town is taking applications now to fill Carlin's previous position.
Monday, during the Mentone Town Council meeting, the board named Carlin to replace Darrel Miller, who resigned Oct. 24. The board approved the resignation at its Nov. 5 meeting, and named Carlin acting superintendent until they made a decision on the position.Carlin will receive $35,030 per year as the utilities superintendent, effective Nov. 30.
Carlin is at a conference and was not present at Monday's meeting.
Board President Tim Croy suggested advertising for applications to fill Carlin's previous full-time position in the utilities department in the newspaper three times. Applications will be taken through Jan. 1, and a decision will be made after the new year begins. The employee will have to sign a drug-free policy, said Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross.
Miller, 52, started working for the town on Nov. 1, 1990. He became the utilities superintendent in November 2006 after Brian Reed left for the private sector.
Carlin and his wife, Billie Jo, have a daughter, Bellami. A 2000 Tippecanoe Valley High School graduate, Carlin graduated from Ivy Tech in 2005 with a degree in computer information systems.
Chris Stoneburner was present at the meeting. He said he is applying for Carlin's previous position that now is open in the town. He wanted to make his presence known to the board. He turned in a resume and letters of recommendation to Ross Wednesday.
A water drainage problem north of Ind. 25 through Mentone may be caused by a lack of a retention pond at Mentone Elementary School.
Croy said Emmans engineering firm, Plymouth, surveyed the Yazel's pond and came to the conclusion that the pond is "as it should be." The pond actually is kept lower than it has to be. Croy said Emmans feels the water run-off from the school is a problem.
The school's original design included a retention pond, but was not built, Croy said. Carlin is looking to set up a meeting with Emmans and the school to address the water run-off problem.
"That's our next thing, sit down with the school," said Croy.
In other business:
n Ross reported trash pick-up over the holidays will be Thursdays, instead of Wednesdays, on Dec. 27 and Jan. 3.
n The council approved a motion to renew membership at Sam's Club for interested town employees.
n Leak pick-up for the year is over. Anyone who needs to have leaves picked up must now bag them.
n Four fire hydrants will be purchased from EJP for $900 each. They are regularly priced $1,900.
n The end-of-year meeting for the town board to transfer funds will be at 3 p.m. Dec. 18.
n The November report for Mentone's police department included 22 incidents, 14 cases, nine major cases; eight adults were arrested, and there were three felonies; 10 traffic-related uniform traffic tickets were written, and one ordinance violation ticket was written; 62 traffic-related warnings were given out, and four ordinance violations warnings were written; one warrant was served; there were three accidents responded to; reserves worked a total of 57 hours; and police had four training hours.
Members of the council are Croy, Roger Long and Jack Simpson.
