Mentone Council To Consider Raising CCD Rate
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews
MENTONE — Mentone property owners may see a small tax increase next year.
Mentone Town Council is considering raising the rate for the Cumulative Capital Development Fund. The town’s financial advisor, Baker Tilly, recommended the increase, said Town Clerk-Treasurer Nicki Norris at the council’s meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Mentone Town Hall.
The town would raise the rate from 0.0383 to 0.05. That means that someone with property valued at $100,000 would see an increase of $4, said Norris.
The town plans to hold a public hearing on the increase at its next meeting Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Mentone Town Hall. A final vote could come at its March meeting. The hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. with the regular meeting at 6:45 p.m.
In other business, the council also:
- Planned to have a representative from the internet service provider formerly known as KCOnline at its next meeting on Feb. 3.
That’s to renegotiate the company’s contract with the town to rent space on the town’s water tower to provide internet.
- Heard from Council Member Tim Croy that Ryan and Addie Costello were the winners of the Mentone Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas decorating contest. They won $200. Placing second were Brandon and Karissa Cody, who won $100, and placing third were Greg and Shannon Brazo, who won $50. Hartzler Funeral Home sponsored the contest.
- Heard from Will and Mickie Sparkman, who have purchased the former dental office at 100 S. Broadway St. and plan to make it a home. They asked the town if they needed to change the zoning from commercial to residential. Town Council President Jill Gross said she checked with county officials and the switch doesn’t have to be made. Also, she said she was told that the couple’s taxes might be cheaper if they opted to leave it as commercial. The Sparkmans opted to keep it commercial.
- Heard from Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd that the employees got a grain bin roof taken down from Goshert Farms. They’re to use it as the roof of a gazebo at the town’s park at Main and Morgan streets.
- Heard from Town Marshal Jim Eads that Deputy Marshal Sam Bohnke is to start his drug recognition training next week with the county. Bohnke is to do that training for three days a week for the next few weeks.
- Agreed to roll over 10 and a half sick days from 2020 to this year for Bohnke. That’s to help financially compensate him for when he had to take that amount of time off when he had COVID-19 last summer.