Mentone Deputy Marshal Lou Medina, left, and Town Marshal Jim Eads shake hands. (Photo by Amanda McFarland)

MENTONE — The wait is over and Mentone has welcomed Lou Medina as its new deputy marshal.

Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads made the official announcement to a round of applause Monday evening, April 4, during the regular meeting of the Mentone Town Council.

Medina has previously served as town marshal of Claypool and has had 14 years’ combined experience in law enforcement. He brings extensive training to the job, including basic academy training, marshal’s academy training and training through the Indiana Department of Correction.

Given this previous experience and training, Eads requested Medina’s salary be at least $40,000 per year to start. Eads added that $42,000 had originally been budgeted for a deputy marshal for this year. Eads asked that Medina’s official start date be April 1, so Medina can receive compensation for time already spent on the job during that pay period. The council agreed to both the salary and the start date.

Tim Croy invited Jack and Rita Simpson to the meeting to discuss possible purchase of a lot they have for sale near the site of the new Dollar General store. The idea, Croy said, would be to use the land for utility purposes, such as water, wastewater and possibly a lift station.

The couple expressed interest in selling the land and told the council they need to have it appraised before they name a price. Croy added that funds can come out of the water utility, since that is what the land would be used for. The council plans to discuss the matter further and to examine the budget to make sure the purchase is doable.

Other News

• The Mentone Farmers Market will officially open for the year Saturday, May 7. Hours will be 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the northeast corner of SR 25 and Tucker Street. There will be no setup fee for vendors.
• Eads requested approval for him, Medina and each of Mentone’s five reserve officers to join the Indiana Marshals Association at $35 each. Through this membership, they can receive much of their mandatory training. He also requested that he and Medina be approved to attend the spring conference April 15-16 at $30 each. The council approved both requests.
• Josh Shephard asked for approval to have Ziebart in Warsaw treat the underside of the department’s 2010 Chevy dump truck, which has started to rust. The treatment will cost $945 but, once applied, will prevent further rusting.
• Shephard requested an executive meeting with the council, which they set for 6 p.m. Thursday, April 14.
• There has been trouble lately with buildings and vehicles being egged. Eads encouraged anyone experiencing any type of vandalism to report it. “That way we get an idea of how often it’s happening, that times,” he said. “All that information helps us narrow it down to who, what, when, where.”