MENTONE — Mentone is one step closer to having a new deputy marshal.

During the regular Mentone Town Council meeting Monday evening, March 7, Town Marshal Jim Eads announced he has narrowed the pool to three candidates. Eads and the council will meet in executive session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, to interview each candidate and make a decision, which will be announced next month.

Executive sessions are not open to the public.

Jill Gross noted that the Kosciusko County Drainage Board meeting, originally scheduled for Feb. 25, was postponed due to snow. The meeting has been moved to 9 a.m. Thursday, March 24, in the old courtroom at the Kosciusko County courthouse.

The topic of discussion will be raising drainage fees. Gross encouraged local taxpayers to attend and make their thoughts heard.

“Anybody who pays taxes on the Swick Meredith, we would appreciate if you’d be at the old courtroom on the 24th,” Gross said.

Mentone resident Robert Hudson brought up concerns over the number of dogs residents are allowed to have at any one time. Eads noted that, by town ordinance, the maximum number is three. Hudson added that there are at least 19 dogs in the homes surrounding his and that the smell from the dog feces has become a nuisance.

“Most of them are really good about keeping them in at night, so the barking thing isn’t an issue, but I can’t open my windows until August,” Hudson said.

Other News

• Council Member Tim Croy noted the chamber of commerce will host its annual Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 26, at Mentzer Park.
• The council voted to renew its Sam’s Club membership.
• Large trash pickup is set for May 18. Details will be announced at a later date.
• Eads noted the town’s internet firewall contract is almost up. He presented two bids, one for one year at $326.50 and one for three years at $599.50. The council approved the three-year contract, which will save money in the long run.
• Park Superintendent Josh Shephard thanked the anonymous volunteer or volunteers who cleaned up the sticks at the park. “I came in on Saturday and the whole park was cleaned up and it’s greatly appreciated,” he said.
• Shephard presented bids for the electricity for the new building. One was for $8,600 from D&D Electric, Warsaw, and the other was from McClone Electric for $8,741. The council approved D&D for the contract.
• Gross noted that anyone interested in participating in Indiana Bicentennial activities Sept. 29, through Oct. 1, is invited to sign up. The torch relay will not come through Mentone, she said, but local residents will still be invited to volunteer.
• The council is still in the process of purchasing a recorder for meetings. Gross noted she hopes to find one with a warranty of at least a month to give the council time to test it out.