Eads pointed out a few amendments to be made, including changes to the complaint form section. Krueger noted some places had been condensed and Eads agreed to look over the new policies that evening. He requested it be officially in place in 45 days, March 15, to give time to implement them.

Eads also asked if he could pick up where he had left off in the hiring of a new deputy. With several candidates left, Eads said the next step is a physical aptitude exam, to which the council agreed.

Under “new business,” council member Tim Croy gave an update on Mentone’s historic cannon, which is undergoing restoration. Croy noted he had contracted Schwartz Wheels, an Amish-owned company in Bremen, to do work on the cannon’s wheels. He added that local Boy Scouts plan to clean the cannon before it is painted.

Croy hopes to have the entire project done by Memorial Day, in time to dedicate the cannon.

Council Member Jill Gross expressed interest in attending a meeting of the county drainage board in February pertaining to raising the rates of ditch assessments. Croy expressed some frustration pertaining to the topic.

“It seems like we always pay in but they never come and clean out,” he said.

Other News

• Eads was approved to attend a Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event session in Indianapolis, which he said was like a “train-the-trainer” class.
• Josh Shephard requested approval to build a three-sided carport over his fuel tanks, which he recently had repainted. He added that when it rains, the department has to pump out the containment area surrounding the tanks. Croy added that mosquitoes and algae can be a problem if the containment area fills up with water. The council approved the project for $2,300.
• Shephard also noted he would like to have electricity and a new furnace installed in the department’s new building. The amount quoted for the furnace was roughly $4,000.