Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - Mentone is looking for a new town council member.
Mark Hughes, former town council president, resigned from the position effective at the end of 2005 due to his work schedule.
The Republican party will accept applications for the position and select another board member as soon as possible.
Since Hughes was the president, the council elected Tim Croy as the 2006 president Monday night.
The council also approved a water bill adjustment for Nan Neiswonger, co-owner of Nana and Dad's Broadway Tavern. Neiswonger addressed the board about a water leak. She told the board that the water department was called the day the leak was found, but the water was not shut off until the next morning.
She also told the board that she was promised an outside shut-off valve would be installed, but to date the valve has not been installed.
Utilities Superintendent Brian Reed said the water was not shut off because the shut-off valve could not be found the night the leak was discovered.
Although he could not give a specific date when the valve would be installed, Reed said of the repair, "We'll try to do it in the morning so we don't bother your business."
In other business, the council:
• Elected new representatives for several town entities: EMS board, Croy; plan commission, Kent Ganshorn; zoning board, Harold Carlin and Doug Miller; and fire control board, Croy. The rest of the boards remains the same.
• Addressed a citizen's question about who pays for the water used when neighboring fire departments travel to Mentone to fill tankers. "It's a good neighbor thing," said Reed. He also said other towns do not charge for water they provide to fire departments.
• Approved Reed's request to buy a new wand-style valve box locator for $750. According to Reed, the new locator is "a necessary item" and town workers "will not spend as much time digging" trying to find valves that have been covered. "You're lost without it," said Reed.
• Decided to build two locked storage rooms above the clerk's office and the police office in the new town hall building. Once the building is finished, town employees will build the rooms for storage of records and other items.
Mentone Town Council members are Croy and Jack Simpson.
