MENTONE - Two Mentone property owners have until New Year's Eve to fix up their property or possibly face legal consequences.
Monday night, the Mentone Town Council again discussed the Richard Surface property at 123 E. Main St. and the Eddie Tridle property at 408 W. Monroe St.Surface hand-delivered a letter to councilwoman Jill Gross Monday regarding his property instead of appearing at Monday's meeting. The letter confirms the old dental building will have a "presentable look" within the next 90 days and blend in with the surrounding community.
Surface's letter also states the outside area will be cleaned up, broken glass replaced with new glass and the building will be prepared to be painted as the weather permits during the cold months. "Hopefully, by spring, the building will be saleable and I can sell it on the market," he wrote.
Gross said Surface should have already started work on the property.
The council then shifted into discussion about the Tridle property on Monroe Street. There are several Tridle properties, but the council concentrated on the property at 408 W. Monroe.
"I definitely think it's showing no improvement," said Jim Eads, town marshal.
Tim Croy, council president, said it was not just the boards, siding and roof that need to be improved, but also the electrical and wiring needs to be brought up to code.
The house, councilman Jack Simpson said, has to be brought up to code for Tridle to sell it or rent it.
"He won't sell it," said Gross. "He's going to rent it."
"We can't let him rent it if it's not safe," said Simpson.
Town attorney Larry Beeson said a licensed plumber or electrician would have to fix it up to code, but Tridle is "not going to hire those people."
"It's unliveable. It's totally unliveable," said Simpson. "We're saying fix it right or tear it down."
Croy said any requirements they make of the Tridle property has to be applied to everyone else.
"If he's going to rent it, then it has to come up to code," said Simpson.
"I don't think that's going to happen," said Gross.
Croy said the council needs to give him a date to get everything completed. "If we don't set a timeline, it's never going to happen," said Croy.
"The way he's splitting hairs, you're going to have to come to some understanding," said Eads.
"That's terrible down there," said Simpson. "Go after him. We'll face him in court then. It has to be up to code, safety code."
Eads said Tridle also is running an electrical cord from a pole barn on Monroe Street across an alley to another house. Beeson said that needs to be taken care of immediately.
Beeson suggested giving both Surface and Tridle until Dec. 31. He said the council needs to stay on them so they know the council means business. They either need to fix the property up, or get rid of it.
Beeson told the council he will send Surface and Tridle letters covering all the necessary points, and give them until Dec. 31 to do so.
Clerk-treasurer Barb Ross said the 2008 budget was finally approved by the state, but the town had to decrease their budget by $13,246. The council agreed to eliminate the $16,000 sidewalk and curbing to meet the requirement.
The Economic Development Income Tax additional appropriation the town asked for in February also was finally approved. The town council approved for that money to be used to fix the water main from West Jackson Street to North Oak Street this month.
The 2009 salary ordinance also was approved. The ordinance sets the town employees' salaries, and includes: $2,600 for the council president; $2,100 for council members; $29,669 for the clerk-treasurer; $39,054 for town marshal; $33,948, deputy marshal; $37,163, utilities superintendent; and $27,170, utilities employee.
Part-time employee hourly rates are $6.50 to $10 per hour, with full-time hourly rates being $8 to $15.
As of Monday, Ross informed the council the town's general fund was down to approximately $9,000. It will just cover payroll, she said. The town may have to borrow money or transfer it from the town's Rainy Day Fund or other fund.
In other business, the council:
n Set trick or treat hours for Halloween as Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.
n Hydrants will be flushed in town Wednesday and Thursday. Residents should avoid doing their laundry on those days.
n Leaf pick-up will take place now through Nov. 21. Leaves should be raked to the curb, but not into the street.
There will be no fall clean-up.
n Approved for Utilities Superintendent Eric Carlin to advertise the sale of a town backhoe. To fix the backhoe, it would cost the town $1,093.55.
n Approved the purchase of four tires for the dump truck from Powell Tire for $132 each. Smith Tires bid $131.75 per tire.
