MENTONE – After several years of trying to get Ed Tridle to clean up his properties in Mentone, the town council and Tridle ended up taking the matter to the courts. Monday night, Tridle approached the council about trying to move a project regarding his property, known as the “pink house”, at 408 W. Monroe St., forward, but town attorney Larry Beeson advised the council not to discuss it. On Sept. 8, 2009, the town council issued an order for the demolition of the building at 408 W. Monroe St. Tridle filed a lawsuit against the town asking Kosciusko Superior Court I to vacate the town’s order that Tridle’s property be demolished. Last night, Tridle told the council, “I want to ask the board and find some common ground to revisit the issue. I want to see what it would take for the town to get the house off the hit list and move forward.” Beeson made some comments to the council, and town council president Tim Croy told Tridle, “Our counsel says we can not discuss this so we need to cut you off. Anything you need to do, you have to go through your attorney and have him consult with our attorney.” “I still think there are issues outside of legal issues,” Tridle said. “This is not the place to discuss them,” Beeson responded. “Have your attorney contact me, and if anything can be worked out, they’ll be worked out.” Utilities Superintendent Eric Carlin gave the council an update on the wastewater treatment plant. He said the substantial completion date was May 6, and construction is expected to be completed by Friday. Carlin said they met the first month of the five-month compliance plan. He presented a change order for a chain link fence not to exceed $1,148.40. Carlin is still negotiating the price, so it could be less than that, he said. The council approved the change order. Carlin also reported the project is $120,000 under budget, and more information on that will be presented to the council when the project is all finished. Jim Emans, of Emans Engineering, updated the council on the stormsewer project. He said it got underway a month ago and it’s been proceeding along well since then. He said the railroad mandated that they put 10 extra feet in under the railroad. The town will get 50 percent of that cost back though as the railroad is mandated to pay half of the cost. Restoration to Ind. 25 should be done by week’s end. Emans said they will be doing open cutting on Ind. 19, and Ind. 19 will be shut down for three to five days during that operation. After that, work will be done in fields until they get to Maple, he said. As the project moves forward, he said, they are looking for ways to improve the town’s overall drainage. As far as construction goes, Emans said they should be done by Labor Day. “It’s moving right alone,” Emans said. Croy thanked the town employees, Mentone Police Dept., Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Dept. and the Chamber of Commerce for the great work they did on the Egg Festival last weekend. “I think it went well,” Croy said. He also thanked the Mentone Boy Scouts for cleaning up the streets Sunday after the festival. Renewal of software for the town’s billing and payroll was approved for $4,380. The amount also provides for the software license. The council scheduled its budget meeting for June 20 at 6:30 p.m. Since the July meeting falls on July 4, the council moved that meeting to July 5 at 6:30 p.m. Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross told the council she had a list of a few customers who she wanted to turn over to a collection agency. The total amount of water bills not paid is $1,932. Croy suggested the council publish the names of the people who are past due in the newspaper. Carlin requested permission to purchase a mini-jetter to help clean septic tanks for $4,399 plus about $100 in shipping from a Minnesota company. The council approved the request. Croy reported the first day of the Mentone Community Market is June 18. Contact Shelly Kruger for more information. Ron Scott also still has garden spots available, Croy said, at the community garden. Mentone Town Council members are Croy, Jill Gross and Kent Ganshorn.
