Mentone Talks About Water Concerns As Tower Painting Begins

MENTONE - Painting the inside of Mentone's water tower was set to begin either early Monday afternoon or today, according to Brian Reed, water department.

The hydrants are running while the painting is taking place, which Reed said was a waste of water.

That announcement led to town councilman Roger Long saying the property at 510 N. Franklin St. needs checked out because the water there is backing up.

"It's bad," Long said, "so I don't know if the water is coming from a blocked storm drain."

He said the water is in the duct work now, but as of Saturday night, not as much.

Reed said there is a lot of water behind on Tucker Street properties, and a few things have been investigated.

"It is definitely saturated up there, you are right about that," Reed said.

He said he doesn't know where the water is coming from. When they started investigating the problem, he said there had been so much rain they just weren't sure what the problem was.

"I just wanted to make sure we don't have a busted water drain," said Long.

Clerk-Treasurer Barbara Ross announced the town received a $10,000 grant from the Kosciusko County Foundation. The grant, from the Myra Igo Haley Advised Fund through the Foundation, was obtained by Krystal Lybarger and the Moms of Mentone for playground equipment at the park. Zimmer also is giving $500 towards the equipment.

Anyone interested in providing more donations can contact Lybarger at the Kids Closet.

In other business, the town council:

• Heard from Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads he hired Steve Sanders as the town's reserve officer.

The council also approved Eads' request of $220 to purchase a telephone for the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building. The phone only dials 911 and has no buttons. If a person just knocks the phone off the receiver, it still automatically dials 911.

Eads said the phone is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and will be placed at about 4 feet high.

• Approved an ordinance vacating the north and south, and east and west alleys in the square block of Oak, Harrison, Walnut and Jackson streets. Since councilman Jack Simpson owns the property, he abstained from voting on the ordinance.

All three of the councilmen approved the ordinances regulating fencing and accessory buildings in the town.

The town's zoning board approved the ordinances at its Oct. 25 meeting.

• Approved a bid from Michaelson Trucking for the street department's 1990 pickup truck for $1,100. The other two bids were from Fleck Trucking for $600, and Burgess Motorsports for $200.

• Heard from Darrell Miller, street department, that leaf pick-up is in full swing. He said he thinks they will be finished by the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, if not before then.

• Approved for Miller and Reed to attend the annual Indiana Rule Water Conference in Columbus, Ind., Dec. 4-6.

Mentone town councilmen are President Tim Croy, Long and Simpson. They meet at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of every month in the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building.