By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — Mentone is planning to seek input on how to make the community more healthy.

At its meeting Wednesday, Dec. 2, at Mentone Town Hall, the Mentone Town Council discussed the subject.

The K21 Health Foundation has awarded towns in Kosciusko County with grants of up to $200,000 to help with health and wellness. Mentone has yet to spend its funds.

Council members discussed talking to schools and organizations for input as well as possibly putting up suggestion boxes in town. Mentone Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd suggested that funds could be used to improve the town’s main park.

Police report

The council also heard from Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads that he’s not going to send Deputy Marshal Sam Bohnke to drug recognition training out of the area after all.

That’s because the county already provides similar training. Bohnke recently trained with a drug recognition tool that the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office has.

Eads asked the council if Bohnke could intern with the county in January. He would be trained on such things as interviewing and search warrants. The plan would be for him to work with the county three days a week and Mentone two days during that time period.

He would be paid by the town for the full five days each week. The council approved the request.

Eads also asked the council to create a COVID-19 policy regarding pay for employees if they have to quarantine due to the virus. The council is to look into doing that.

Superintendent report

The council heard from Shepherd that paving is finished in town.

Broadway Street has also been re-striped, though not the two blocks originally planned since the weather has become colder.

Trees are also to be removed at the cemetery. The town’s new truck should arrive in January.

Regular leaf pickup is done for the year, and Shepherd asked that any additional leaves or grass be placed in bags for pickup.

In other business, the council also:

• Heard from Council Member Tim Croy that the Mentone Chamber of Commerce’s joint Christmas event with Mentone Volunteer Fire Department is 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

The event will be held in the parking lot near the fire station. It’s a drive-thru event with Santa being present to hand out goody bags for kids to people as they drive through. There will also be a food drive, with people asked to give food as they go through.

Croy also said a Christmas decorating contest is going on in Mentone, run by the Chamber. The contest is sponsored by Hartzler Funeral Home.

Any homes in the town or within a 2-mile radius outside of it may participate. Those in the 2-mile radius who wish to participate do need to send a private message to the Chamber via its Facebook page, so judges know to visit their home to look at their decorations on the judging date.

The date of judging is Wednesday, Dec. 23. Prizes are: $200 for first place; $100 for second; and $50 for third.

• Heard from Town Attorney Andrew Grossnickle that he will work with Indiana Telephone Co. on its contract with the town. The company rents space on the town’s water tower for $100 per month to provide internet.