Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - A resident concerned about several issues in town approached the Mentone Town Council Monday night seeking answers to several questions.
Richard Dickerhoff said he has heard rumors about the contaminated soil around the Frank Manufacturing building being purchased by Bell Memorial Public Library and questioned whether the town will be liable for cleanup.
Council president Ed Lamar said there are letters on file from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management stating there is no liability for the town or the library once the parking lot is sealed.
Dickerhoff also asked why so many of the boards within the town, such as the cemetery board, comprise many of the same individuals, most of whom are town employees or council members. Council member Ed Rock said it is difficult to get people involved or to commit to serving on these boards. Dickerhoff did not respond to utilities superintendent Brian Reed's offer to give up his spot on the cemetery board to Dickerhoff, if he would accept it and the council approved it.
A concern about a possible blocked tile in a ditch between Dickerhoff's property and Mentzer Park also was discussed. Dickerhoff spoke with park board president Matt Cohagan about locating the problem and also about trimming some trees along the ditch.
Cohagan said he told Dickerhoff to make a list of the items he wanted to discuss and he would go with Dickerhoff to the park to look over the concerns.
However, Dickerhoff dug two areas that were left open and never backfilled, Cohagan said. Those areas are now flooded because of the recent rains and Cohagan said he is concerned for the safety of the public using the park.
Also, Cohagan said, Dickerhoff trimmed some trees without permission and, while the effort is appreciated, the limbs that were removed were left in the ditch, leaving the possibility that they will float to another location and cause another blockage.
Dickerhoff said he was offended by the lack of cooperation by some people in town and his not being allowed to drive his equipment into the park since he was offering free assistance.
Cohagan said the "free help" was done without his knowledge by Dickerhoff going to a council member after the two men already talked. "Now it's worse than it was before," Cohagan said.
Cohagan agreed to work on the drainage problem as soon as the weather permits and asked that Dickerhoff do no more digging in the park. "If we have to put a tile in, it's a lot easier to do it when it's dry," Cohagan said.
In other business, the council:
• Announced residents can sign up for sidewalks and curbing at the clerk-treasurer's office. The work will be done at a 50-50 cost on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Signed permit requests to be sent to the state for closing Ind. 25 during the Mentone Egg Festival, set for May 30-31 and June 1.
• Reported the town received $9,500 for the old town truck and $3,500 for the old backhoe during a recent auction.
• Approved providing a $50 gift certificate to the restaurant of choice of Don Smythe as a way to thank him for his ongoing contributions of hoses used on the town's leaf vacuum. Smythe has donated three of the $800 hoses to the town during the past five years and has refused compensation for the items.
• Gave permission for the purchase of a reasonably priced printer for use at the wastewater treatment plant as a replacement for a nonworking unit.
• Accepted a bid of $4,858.64 from K.L. Crispen Builders of Rochester for remodeling the police department offices. The only other bid received was from Josh Shepherd and Keith Jones for $5,500. There is $5,000 budgeted for this cost.
• Set spring cleanup, with large-item trash pickup, for May 17.
The Mentone Town Council meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of each month in the town hall. Council members are Ed Lamar, Ed Rock and Mike Diemer.
