MENTONE – Unanimously, the Mentone Town Council Tuesday approved an ordinance regulating private wells in the town.
Town attorney Larry Beeson said the new ordinance provides for three things.
One, no private wells can be installed or constructed within the town boundaries unless the town council deems it economically impractical or otherwise not feasible for the extension of the town’s water line to the property. Any permission by the town council for a well is subject to all federal, state and local laws.
Two, any person, firm or corporation wanting to construct a well for water for industrial or other uses, but not for human consumption, has to submit an application for a building permit to the building commissioner. The application must include plans, specifications, designs and other information so the building commissioner may make a determination.
Third, any person, firm or corporation in violation of the ordinance or who fails to comply shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon conviction, they shall be fined not less than $5 nor more than $100 each day that such violation or noncompliance continues.
The council also heard an update on the stormwater project.
James W. Emans, civil engineer and land surveyor with Emans Engineering, Bremen, said the project is about done. All the piping is in the ground. There is some work left to do, including paving and seeding.
With all the design work on other projects related to the stormwater project Emans helped with, he said the grant dollars should be about exhausted. He expects one last pay request from contractors on the stormwater project and a change order. In those extras, he said, there were lots of significant changes.
“Just waiting to see that big rain event to see it do what I said it would do,” Emans said.
A lot of good contractors worked on the project, he said. The town will be provided with a set of documents of what it has.
Before the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m., the council held its public budget hearing at 6 p.m. There were no remonstrators.
The 2012 Mentone estimated proposed budget includes $438,438 for the General Fund; $13,000 for the Local Roads and Streets fund; $38,900 for the Motor Vehicle Highway fund; $4,200 for cemetery; $6,000 for the Cumulative Capital Improvement fund; $10,200 for the Cumulative Capital Development fund; and $72,000 for the Economic Development Income Tax fund.
During the regular meeting, the council also approved the 2012 salary ordinance.
Council members are President Tim Croy, Jill Gross and Kent Ganshorn.
