At the Mentone Town Council meeting on Wednesday, May 11, are from left: Council Member Tim Croy, Town Clerk-Treasurer Amanda Yaprak, Council President Jill Gross, Council Member Shelly Krueger and Town Attorney Andrew Grossnickle. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — Mentone has set the pay of its new deputy marshal.

At its meeting on Wednesday, May 11, the Mentone Town Council agreed to set Deputy Marshal Jacob Bill’s annual salary at $43,500.

The council had previously disagreed on what to pay Bill at its April meeting.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Council Member Tim Croy stated that again that he wanted to pay Bill $42,766, which was what the council had agreed to pay Bill’s predecessor Sam Bohnke for 2022. Bohnke left in December 2021 to take a job with the Warsaw Police Department. Croy added that the council could raise his salary for next year.

Council Member Shelly Krueger said again she wanted to pay Bill more than that, having said prior that she wanted to pay him $46,330. That was the top amount that Mentone had advertised as a salary when it was seeking applications for the position.

Krueger had said that Bill’s prior experience with the Indiana State Police merited him making more.

Council President Jill Gross, who wasn’t at the April meeting, suggested $43,500. She said the council could raise his salary for 2022.

After some discussion, the council also agreed to allow Bill to take his police vehicle back to his home. Previously he’d been having to use his personal vehicle to drive from home to Mentone to get the vehicle to use for work.

Part-time pay

The council also agreed to amend its salary ordinance for 2022 to increase the amount it would pay part-time town employees.

That was at the request of Town Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd. The rate has been moved from a range of $7.25 to $12 to $7.25 to $15.

In other business, the council:

• Heard a reminder from Krueger that the town’s first farmers market of the year is Saturday, May 14. It’s from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sellers may set up at 7 a.m. or earlier if they wish. There will also be a craft and antique fair during that time. People need to fill out a form to sell only if they haven’t filled out one before. To get a form or for more information, people may contact Krueger at [email protected] or reach out via the farmers market Facebook page.
• Heard a reminder from Gross that the town’s annual cleanup day is Saturday, May 21. Croy noted that Apex Waste is start picking up at 6 a.m. that day, so people need to make sure items are set out before that. For a list of items that shouldn’t be put out, people should contact the Mentone Town Office.
• Gave its thanks to Bill and Town Marshal Jim Eads for their help with Mentone Youth League’s parade on May 7.
• Heard from Croy that as of June 25 people who are using the town’s trash pickup service are to make sure that their red trash containers are set on the street as Apex Waste is to start using a mechanical arm to pick up the containers.
• Also heard from Croy that people are to notify the town if they want to have trash pickup if they weren’t previously utilizing the service. Apex Waste distributed red trash containers to some people who weren’t customers and is to take them back unless people notify the town they want to pay for trash service.
• Agreed to move its June meeting back a week to Wednesday, June 8, due to some scheduling conflicts. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at Mentone Town Hall.