Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - Street work this fall will encompass repaving three streets, finishing two streets and repairing five areas dug up to fix water leaks.
The Mentone Town Council voted Monday to repave the 100 blocks of North Morgan, North Broadway and North Tucker streets. Also, finish work left undone because of the town's recent water project will be done in the 300 block of West Jackson Street and the 200 block of West High Street. The cost for that work, as well as the five patches, totals $20,510. The work will be done by Phend & Brown, Milford.
In other business, councilman Forrest Kantner asked for an explanation of the town's water shut-off procedure since he recently spoke with a landlord who was concerned about getting "stuck" with a tenant's water bill that was delinquent prior to the renter moving out.
When bills become delinquent, there is a grace period before notification is made of a pending shut-off. Customers then have an option of paying all or a major portion of a bill and setting up a payment plan to pay off the balance in a timely fashion. If a notice is ignored or a customer fails to follow through on a payment plan, then the water is shut off.
Kantner said landlords should be notified as a courtesy when tenants become delinquent so that action can be taken prior to the bills falling back on them. The council agreed that such calls can be made and Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Phillips will take care of notifying landlords.
The council also:
• Approved the purchase of a software upgrade from Key Billing to ready the town's computer system for 2000. The $1,900 purchase will be made after Jan. 1.
• Gave permission for Marshal Jim Eads to attend an investigation school Dec. 16-18 at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield. The cost is $285 for the class and $97 for lodging, plus meals.
• Set fall cleanup for Oct. 16. A list of items not acceptable by the trash hauler is available at the clerk's office.
• OK'd the purchase of new carpet for the clerk's office from Valley Furnishings at a cost of $567.52.
• Told Jim Keirn to determine whether his request for placing a mobile home on a lot across from Mentone Egg Products even meets the town's criteria for consideration before any decision is made.
• Set an executive session for Sept. 23 to discuss hiring a deputy marshal.
The next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 in the town hall.
