MENTONE – An ordinance will need to be written and approved so the Mentone Town Council knows how it wants to use the town’s American Rescue Plan Act funds.
In September, the Council heard from four the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) Pathway teams about different projects ideas. The Council decided to use ARPA funds to update the park. Included in the project are new playground equipment, a nine-hole disc golf course, a new pavilion, additional bathrooms and a kitchenette, paving the current parking area and repairing the bridge.
The Council also decided to seek funding on other projects presented such as transportation to farmers markets, a combined community food pantry and having computer classes for seniors and others who need it at the Bell Memorial Library.
Wednesday, Clerk-Treasurer Amanda Yaprak said 99% of the ARPA funds could be allocated toward the park project, but the town doesn’t need to use it all. She said everything that was put on the town’s worksheet for the park project would cost $555,000.
There are several grants the town is looking to hopefully use toward the project, which are a $117,000 Community Development Block Grant CARES Act (CDBG-CV), a $20,000 local Go Forward! grant and a $200,000 local K21 Wellness grant. That would leave approximately $218,500 to be used from the town’s ARPA funds. She said the CDBG-CV also might be a matching grant.
Yaprak said the project worksheets have been submitted to the state and the town has not heard if and when the project will be approved.
She said she could get with other towns to see what they’re doing in regards to making up ordinances in regards to the HELP Pathway projects.
Town attorney Andrew Grossnickle said if she wanted to send him a draft of the ordinance, he could take a look at it.
In other business, Yaprak said a water study can go forward.
The water rate study came up at August’s meeting after Yaprak talked with representatives of public accounting and consulting firm Baker Tilly and was told the utility receipt tax (URT) was repealed effective July 30. Due to the repeal, Mentone needs Baker Tilly to reevaluate or do a rate study for the town’s water or use the town’s 2012 water study.
At September’s meeting, Yaprak said the water study had to be put on hold due to a water audit.
Wednesday, Yaprak said the audit is no longer pending and she will sign the contract with Baker Tilly today to get the water study started.
Also, the Council:
• Adopted its 2023 budget. The total proposed budget is $1,115,870.
• Was reminded trick-or-treating will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 with costume judging starting at 7 p.m. at Mentone Elementary School.
• Approved the purchase of a 20-foot trailer from Bobcat for $10,500.
• Heard from resident Hannah Beliles about a chicken ordinance.
She has been before the Council several times about the Council putting in place an ordinance where residents in town limits can own chickens.
Wednesday, she said there are practical reasons for keeping chickens, such as being an option to get fresh food, as well as chickens can be a good way to keep pests and weeds down. No action was taken.
• Approved a quote of $23,944 from a company in Pennsylvania to get new lining in a 24-inch storm sewer under South Franklin Street.
