At Wednesday, July 7’s Mentone Town Council meeting are from left: Council Member Tim Croy, Town Clerk-Treasurer Nicki Norris, Council President Jill Gross, Council Member Shelly Krueger and Town Attorney Andrew Grossnickle. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — The Mentone Town Council recently heard an update on working to address several unsafe houses in town.

At its Wednesday, July 7, meeting, the council heard an update from Town Attorney Andrew Grossnickle. The houses in question are at 405 N. Tucker St., 406 N. Tucker St. and 106 W. Maple St.

Grossnickle spoke with the Kosciusko County Health Department’s Bill Baxter who has notified the homeowners of the buildings’ conditions and is working with them on getting the issues addressed.

With the issue being raised about the houses though, the town has realized it needs a better process in place for remedying such violations. Grossnickle said he will work on a related ordinance.

Other Business

The council also:

• Heard from Cal Jackson of First Baptist Church of Mentone. Jackson has regularly visited the council for several months about getting paperwork done to unite two parcels of land at the church to put up a pole building. Grossnickle on behalf of the town was able to help resolve the issue. Jackson provided the council with a copy of the paperwork.

• Heard from Ben Thornburgh. He’s purchased the property at 507 N. Broadway St. for two businesses. He also wishes to put a house near the property. “However, the issue is the bank slammed the brakes on because the current zoning is industrial,” said Thornburgh. The council will have a public hearing at its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, on changing the zoning to residential.

• Heard from Town Clerk-Treasurer Nicki Norris that the town will have the public hearing for the 2022 budget at its Sept. 1 meeting and vote on it at its Oct 6 meeting.