MENTONE — Community leaders in Mentone and Kosciusko County gathered Thursday afternoon to celebrate major renovations to Mentzer Park.

Improvements include a new pavilion complete with restrooms, a resurfaced basketball court and a new walking path that connects other nearby amenities.

[caption id="attachment_118424" align="alignright" width="176"] Rita Simpson Price[/caption]

Total cost of the project was around $720,000, and the project relied on numerous funding sources, including money from former President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan Act from the pandemic and the K21 Health Foundation.

It was another project coordinated by Hoosiers Enduring Legacy Program, which has worked closely with the Indiana Office of Rural Affairs and led locally by Amy Roe, the county's Community Coordinator, who has been the driving force behind completion of other recent community projects in Pierceton, Milford and Etna Green.

Such an undertaking was a huge one for the town of Mentone and included some delays and hiccups, but Mentone Clerk-Treasurer Amanda Yaprak was excited to see the results.

“We didn’t know what we were getting into, but it turned out better than what we could have imagined,” Yaprak said after the ceremony.

Mentone Chamber of Commerce President Rita Price Simpson said the project could not have happened without a broad network of support.

One of the things that came to mind to me immediately when I came down there and saw what was happening, I thought, ‘Do you know how many chicken barbecues we’d have to do to set aside that (amount) of money?’ More than we could have ever done in a lifetime,” Price Simplson said.

“That’s why the grants are so important to us and that’s why a small town can really make such a difference in having that kind of money. It does take a lot of extra work by the county people as well as the local people so I want to thank them publicly for all the hard work they’ve put in on this process,” she said.  

Lindsey Hammond, OCRA northeast community liaison, said, Tte project Exemplifies the purpose of the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program, as well as OCRA’s overall mission to help rural communities thrive and improve quality of life for their communities."

Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting cutting Thursday afternoon to celebrate the renovations to Mentzer Park in Mentone. 

The town is hosting a contest to name the new pavilion, and suggestions are being accepted at the town hall offices. The Town Council will choose the name within a few weeks.

Officials are already working on a second phase of improvements, which would include a golf disc course and pickleball courts.

[caption id="attachment_118434" align="aligncenter" width="1004"] Plan for a second phase of park improvements are already in the works. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_118433" align="aligncenter" width="720"] A view of the new pavilion after Thursday's celebration. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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MENTONE – The town of Mentone continues to look for a new town marshal and is turning to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office as a backup.

Town Council approved a motion Monday to put out applications again for town marshal until the end of the month.

Current Town Marshal Jim Eads is retiring effective Oct. 30.

The council originally accepted applications until Sept. 15 for the position of town marshal.
Monday, Council President Jill Gross said they have received nine applications so far. Councilman Tim Croy said they decided on the extension to get more of a selection of applicants. He heard some people didn’t apply originally for the position by the Sept. 15 deadline for various reasons.

Gross said she will talk with Clerk-Treasurer Amanda Yaprak to have her put the applications online, so applications can be printed from the town’s website, mentonein.gov, or picked up from Yaprak. All applications need to be brought to Yaprak by Oct. 31.

Gross also said she talked with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and KCSO said they can cover Mentone in four-hour shifts at $40 an hour for 12 shifts a month. She said it will be a month-to-month contract.

Croy said he’d like to see a contract the council can approve at their Nov. 1 meeting. The rest of the council agreed.

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MENTONE -- Mentone Town Council is considering a rate hike for its water utility.

Council heard an update from Baker Tily this week that proposed a 28 percent increase, according to clerk-treasurer Amanda Yaprak.

Most residential customers currently pay about $27 a month, but that could rise to $35 a month.

Yaprak said they’re looking at different options including a phase-in of the hike over several years.

The hike would help offset a small deficit the utility has been running, she said.

No decision has been made and a public hearing would be needed if the town pursues any plan.

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