MENTONE – Now that the Mentone Town Council approved its 2014 budget Monday night, it just has to wait for the Department of Local Government Finance to finalize it. Seven funds make up the budget, with the largest being the general fund at $404,812. That’s about $32,000 less than the 2013 general fund. The other 2014 funds include Local Roads and Streets at $17,280; Motor Vehicle Highway, $36,400; Cemetery, $5,200; Cumulative Capital Improvement, $2,920; Economic Development Income Tax, $127,000; and the Riverboat Fund at $16,000. In another matter, Council President Tim Croy announced a Small Business Tune-Up Listening Session scheduled for 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Oct. 22 in town hall. It’s being hosted by Kosciusko County Economic Development Corp., the Small Business Development Center, the Town of Mentone and the Mentone Chamber of Commerce. Croy said they believe small businesses are important to the local economy and want to talk to anyone with a small business or anyone thinking about starting up a small business. Similar sessions are being held across Kosciusko County. Anyone who is planning to attend should pre-register by emailing George Robertson at grobertson@kosciuskoedc.com or call the office at 574-265-2601 Croy then announced TJ’s Crafts & Home Decor, 108 E. Main St., will start collecting new or gently used hats and gloves. People can drop off their donations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, or noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The donations will be accepted through Dec. 15, and then given to Helping Hands. In his final announcement, Croy said trick-or-treat for Halloween this year will be Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Town Marshal Jim Eads asked if the town was going to have a fall cleanup this year. “I don’t know that we are,” Croy responded. Councilwoman Shelly Krueger said the town hasn’t had a fall cleanup in a couple years. Eads said the town usually does a spring cleanup, but he thought about a fall cleanup when Croy mentioned the trick-or-treat hours. In other business: • Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross asked the council for approval to transfer $25,000 from this year’s EDIT fund and $15,929 left in the water account to storm sewer. The council granted the request. • Krueger announced the last day for Farmers Market this season is Saturday. This was the third year for it, she said, and it went well. • Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd said leaf pick-up probably will start in the next couple days.
