MENTONE — During a relatively brief regular meeting Monday evening, Dec. 7, the Mentone Town Council and Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads set a date to sit down together and discuss the interviewing process for a new deputy marshal.

The discussion is set for 7 p.m. this Thursday, Dec. 10, during which time the council and Eads will discuss the process of interviewing the 13 job candidates who have applied. The interviews are expected to stretch over a couple of evenings of three to four hours each. Eads hopes the interviews will take place as soon as next week.

Council Member Jill Gross addressed two formal complaints that have been registered against the Mentone Town Council in the last few months pertaining to potential Open Door Law violations. She went on to say that the Public Access Council has determined that no violations were committed.

A note in the council agenda states that, according to public access law, meetings of governing bodies, with some exceptions, are to be open for the public to attend, observe and record. However, it does not grant members of the public the right to speak.

Other News

• Josh Shephard reported that the Lions Club has offered to pay for fire hydrant markers for this winter.
• Shephard also noted that he is in need of a new diesel fuel tank and that he found one for $400 that has a filter and electric pump. It will need a new coat of paint, he said.
• Eads noted that $1,500 had been approved earlier this year for new bullet-proof vests and asked again about purchasing them.
• Shephard mentioned that the lights on one of the downtown wreaths were burned out and that D&D Maintenance was able to make repairs.