At Mentone Town Council’s meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 1, are from left: Town Council Member Tim Croy, Town Clerk-Treasurer Nicki Norris, Town Council President Jill Gross, Town Council Member Shelly Krueger and Town Attorney Andrew Grossnickle. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — Mentone is losing its current deputy marshal.

At its meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 1, the Mentone Town Council accepted Sam Bohnke’s resignation.

“Sam’s going to be moving on to Warsaw PD, bigger and better things, hopefully for him and his family, and I’m proud of him,” said Town Marshal Jim Eads.

Bohnke’s last day with Mentone is Friday, Dec. 3. He’s to start with the WPD on Monday, Dec. 6. Bohnke has served as Mentone deputy marshal since 2017.

Trash Pickup

The town also heard from Apex Waste President Rich Heemstra.

Apex Waste is the town’s trash pickup provider, and the town is working on a multi-year contract with the company.

At its last meeting in November, the council already discussed some of what Heemstra wants to see in the document. Heemstra mentioned Wednesday that he would like a 5% increase per year in what the town is paying him over the life of the contract.

The town opted to look over the contract more before making a final decision. However, knowing that the town needs to pay Apex more for the trash pickup overall, council members approved at November’s meeting raising monthly trash pickup rates for residents from $10 a month to $13 a month. That starts Jan. 1.

The council formalized that decision at Wednesday’s meeting by passing an ordinance on the rate increase for residents.

Water Issue

The council also heard from Town Council President Jill Gross that the town received a complaint from Cornerstone Church, 101 N. Franklin St.

A neighboring house has a sump pump that allows water to overflow near the church’s handicapped parking. It’s an issue in the winter because that water freezes, creating a hazard.

Town Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd will talk with one of the parties involved.

In other business, the council:

• Heard an overview from Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs Northeast Community Liaison Allie Kresse about various grant programs the organization offers for communities.
• Heard from Eads that he’s to order two mobile radios for the police department at a cost of $7,500. That’s out of money the town has budgeted.
• Heard from Shepherd that G&G Hauling & Excavating of Warsaw has started work on the storm sewer project in the area of Franklin and Walnut streets.
• Heard from Shepherd that Friday, Dec. 3, is the last day leaf pickup will occur. Any leaves set out after that date should be bagged or in a container.
• Approved raising the amount its Town Engineer James Emans receives for work done on behalf of the town from $95 an hour to $105 an hour.