Among those attending the Wednesday, Oct. 7, Mentone Town Council meeting were (L-R): Council Member Tim Croy, Clerk-Treasurer Nicki Norris, Council President Jill Gross, Council Member Shelly Krueger and Town Attorney Andrew Grossnickle. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — Mentone is planning to have $797,673 in its budget for 2021.

The Town Council approved the budget at its meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Mentone Town Hall.

The budget breaks down to $10,000 in the casino/riverboat fund; $525,537 in its general fund; $17,200 in the local road and street fund; $91,900 in the motor vehicle highway fund; $16,886 in the cemetery fund; $2,500 in the cumulative capital improvement fund; $18,650 in the cumulative capital development fund; and $115,000 in the economic development fund.

In other business, the council also:

• Heard from Utilities Assistant Superintendent Corbin Hudson that leaf pickup has started.
• Approved vacating an alleyway that was requested by John Martin at its September meeting. It runs east and west by his home, 102 W. Jefferson St.
• Heard from Council Member Tim Croy trick-or-treat hours are 5:30-7 p.m. on Oct. 31. The Mentone Chamber of Commerce’s costume contest is at Mentone Elementary School. Doors open at 7 p.m., and judging is at 7:30 p.m. As it’s at the school, social distancing and mask guidelines will need to be followed.

• Also heard from Croy that Franklin Township voters will vote at the Mentone Fire Station on Election Day, Nov. 3.

They previously voted at Bell Memorial Public Library.

• Heard from Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads that he’s planning to send Deputy Marshal Sam Bohnke to training in Lawrence this winter to become a drug recognition expert. If Bohnke finishes the initial training, he will travel to Florida for the last stage of it.

• Also heard from Hudson that NIPSCO plans to replace town streetlights with LED versions next year.
• Also approved Hudson’s request for racking for attachments for the department’s Bobcat costing $2,000 from Ace. That purchase is to come out of the new equipment fund.
• The council’s next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Mentone Town Hall.