MENTONE — Parking concerns, curbs and meeting dates topped the Mentone Town Council’s regular meeting, held Monday evening, Aug. 1.

Council member Tim Croy expressed concern over erratic parking along Broadway Street, saying some vehicles are parallel parked while others are parked at an angle. Council member Shelly Krueger recommended painting parking lines and Street Superintendent Josh Shephard said he would speak with a contractor to see what the cost might be.

Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross reminded council members of the public hearing on the town budget. The hearing is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, prior to the next regular council meeting. The meeting will be on a Tuesday instead of a Monday because of Labor Day. The budget adoption will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, also prior to the regular meeting.

Town Marshal Jim Eads and Deputy Marshal Lou Mediano requested permission to attend a training session in Indianapolis Sept. 7-9. The training is free and follows up on mandatory training sessions he and Mediano have attended. The only expense, he added, would be for food and lodging for those three days. The council approved the training.

Eads also noted the new police radios have arrived and are working well.

Shephard brought up concerns over the curbs near Java Jack’s. He told the council he had spoken with INDOT representatives, who told him they do not do alley work. Contractor Phend and Brown quoted $9,200 to do the curbs and required ramps,, which Shephard added was, “a little more than I anticipated.”

The council asked if Shephard had approached any other contractors and he told them he had, however mot of them were not interested in the project because of the canopies overhanging the sidewalk. Council member Jill Gross asked why that was significant and Shephard responded that it makes the work more difficult.

Other News

• Eads gave a reminder that Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation will be in session later this week and asked drivers to exercise caution in school zones.
• Gross complimented the fence at the cemetery and thanked a local business donor for contributing $1,000 towards the project’s completion.
• Shephard expressed concern over non-recyclables being placed in the town’s recycling bins. Fiberglass showers are one example. He added that another time, the bins were filled with insulation. He noted that, if the situation continues, the bins could be taken away.
• Fire hydrant painting and cleaning is nearly done, with about 10 to go.
• Croy asked how much it would cost to have a tree removed from his property that has “dead spots.” Shephard said it would cost around $550.
• The next regular meeting of the Mentone Town Council is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6.