MENTONE – Pam Kennedy, executive director of Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, told the Mentone Town Council Monday night that they’re finally going to apply for the grant for the town in June. The grant is the Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Grant with Community Development Block Grant funds from Indiana Housing Community Development Authority. It provides assistance to homeowners to make home repairs or to weatherize their homes. Before the application can be made, however, Kennedy said there was lots to do. She asked the town council what interest rate it wanted on the “loans” made to the homeowners. She suggested 2 percent, which the council agreed to. When Kennedy asked if the town had a comprehensive plan, the council reported it did not. She said the town needed one to get any money from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Kennedy said her office can write a grant for the town to do a comprehensive plan, but that won’t help the town right now. The town should put a comprehensive plan on its agenda for next year, she suggested. The town also needed to approve a Fair Housing Ordinance, which it did last night. Along with approval of that, the town also has to have Fair Housing pamphlets and brochures available at the office at all times. During the town’s Egg Festival, May 31-June 1, brochures also needed to be handed out. Kennedy said agreements had to be signed with local service providers, and she needed to have a public hearing. During the public hearing, information will be gathered about the town’s attributes. The public hearing was set for May 23 at 5:30 p.m., and will last about an hour. For the town, Kennedy said she figured they would ask for a $250,000 grant, but it could be more. After Kennedy was finished explaining everything the town needed to do for the grant, the council approved the 2 percent interest, Fair Housing Ordinance and the subrecipient agreement. Kennedy reported contractors could start working on homes as soon as early September. In other business: • Town Marshal Jim Eads reported Reserve Officer Steve Sanders is retiring from the reserves after the Mentone Egg Festival. Eads wants to fill that position and start taking applications. Since councilwoman Shelly Krueger was not present at Monday’s meeting, Council President Tim Croy preferred to wait to make any decision on the matter, but said Eads could start taking applications. Eads said if the council wasn’t going to approve a new hire, there was no point in wasting his or the applicants’ time with filling out and taking applications. Croy then told him not to take applications at this time. • Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd said the water line at the community garden was done. It did take longer than expected to get it done. He also bragged on the 36-inch tile that was put in up north of town. Shepherd said it did an awesome job during the recent rains. • Croy said Saturday is the opening day for the Mentone Community Farmer’s Market. It will be open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon until the end of October. The market is on the northeast corner of Tucker Street and Ind. 25. There is no set-up fee. New vendors should contact Krueger at 574-353-8105 (home) or 574-606-7549 (cell), or by email at sk5196@yahoo.com, or see her at the farmer’s market Saturday. • The council approved to continue the residential sprinkler credit for June, July and August. Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross said she needs to know by May 20 if anyone wants to take advantage of that credit on their water bill. Croy later added that if anyone has a complaint with their water bill, they should complain to a town council member, not to town employees or Ross. • Shepherd said the utilities department will try and flush hydrants Wednesday and Thursday this week. He also said anyone who has yard waste should put it in a container to save his department time. • Town attorney Larry Beeson said his certified letter to Richard Surface regarding what was discussed at the April town council meeting was received. During last month’s meeting, the council decided to start over with legal procedures regarding Surface’s property at the corner of Main and Morgan streets. Surface either needs to make repairs or take the building down. Repairs must pass codes. “I was told from a reliable source that he’s not going to cooperate with us in any shape or form,” Beeson said. Beeson will notify Surface that the building will be discussed at the council’s June 3 meeting.
