Preliminary rendering of Mentzer Park improvements designed by Troyer Group.

Text and Photos
By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — Preliminary plans and a preliminary budget was presented to the Mentone Town Council during a second public hearing, Thursday, Jan. 11, on its Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program for Mentzer Park Improvements.

The hearing was held to provide residents an opportunity to learn more about the project. However, no one from the community was in attendance.

The improvements will include a new public pavilion, upgraded playground equipment, improved basketball courts, new disc golf course, improved walking path and parking lot improvements.

Amanda Yaprak, clerk-treasurer, noted all documents needed for the application have been provided.

The project’s construction application is due Jan. 21 to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus funds for implementation.

Olivia Nix with Michiana Area Council of Governments, provided renditions of the preliminary design, by the Troyer Group, for the park update along with an estimated construction budget. She reviewed the history of the program, which Mentone was one of three towns that signed o to participate in the Strategic Investment Plans to create a lasting legacy in its community.

Shown from left, Mentone Councilman Tim Croy, Clerk-Treasurer Amanda Yaprak and Councilwoman Shelly Krueger review the preliminary drawings for Mentzer Park improvements.

Since 2023 Mentone has worked with OCRA and MACOG on the project to apply for the CDBG-CV funds.

The estimated cost for the project is $702,800. Mentone is requesting $280,662 of CDBG-CV funds. The approximate amount of local funds to be spent on the project is $202,961, coming from the town’s American Rescue Plan Act.

The remainder of the funds have been budgeted by the town through grants and private donations including private donations and funds from K21 Health Foundation, and Go Forward project through Kosciusko Community Foundation.

Nix noted it will be known in February on the amount awarded and the environmental impact review will take place then. A public hearing will be held after notification of the grant award to update the budget and design.

Amy Roe, county community coordinator who is helping communities through H.E.L.P. Stated “I feel more comfortable than after the last meeting. There’s been so many steps.”

Nix stated the planning grants have a lot less paperwork and only require one public hearing. “There’s a lot of hoops to jump through,” she stated.

During the brief meeting, with only council members Tim Croy and Shelly Krueger present, Roe announced an official date of Jan. 24, has been set to start the Entrepreneurship Program. That program was inspired through H.E.L.P’s Strengthening Local Economy Pathway and was a top priority project for Mentone, Milford and Kosciusko County following meetings.

The program, according to Roe, will partner with Believe In A Dream from Fort Wayne as its fiscal agent to help execute the curriculum and teaching partnership at Wawasee, Whitko, Warsaw and Tippecanoe Valley high schools.

Word will be received Friday, Jan. 12, if a $5,000 grant to begin the program is received from the Don Wood Foundation. The program already has $15,000 a year for its second and third year from the Dekko Foundation. The funds for the first year will go toward consultant, marketing and T-shirts.

Roe stated this will be a beta test with the schools to see how it fits into the schedules, whether it is during school or not. The purpose of the program is to build an entrepreneurship eco system at the high school level to inspire the next entrepreneur in those communities.

“It’s neat to think we’ve come this far … it’s impressive if you think about the impact of six projects in Kosciusko County, that’s just the tangible ones” stated Roe. These six projects include the Entrepreneurship Program, Bilingual Diversity in Education, Food Access and Education, We Lead Kosciusko, Small Community Indoor Fitness and Green Business Hub.