Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - Hoping to find "the best of the best," the Mentone Town Council voted Monday to advertise the opening for the town marshal position.
Marshal Tim Carpenter tendered his resignation at the March meeting, prompting the council to call Monday's special meeting to make a decision on the future of the police department. Council members had hoped to change Carpenter's mind about quitting, but after an executive session it was apparently clear that Carpenter would not return.
Although council president Ed Rock made a motion to promote Deputy Marshal Jim Eads to the position, that proposal died for lack of a second. Eads, who was present at the meeting, is serving as interim marshal.
"I'm not slamming you," council member Forrest Kantner said to Eads, "but I don't know if you're the best we can get or not till I see what comes in." He added that when applications for the job are submitted, "I'd hope that yours will be one of them."
Eads indicated that he intends to seek the job. Rock said that he is "quite satisfied with how Jim's handling the interim."
In a related matter, the council will tell Carpenter to return all town property in his possession immediately, except for the key to the police department. Carpenter has paperwork, including that for the Cops Fast grant, to complete before he is officially off duty with the town. The council set a deadline of April 20 for the work to be finished. One of the police cars will be temporarily stored at a town building until another officer is hired.
Applications for marshal will be accepted in the clerk's office until 4 p.m. April 24. A special meeting will then be set to discuss the applicants.
