Let’s give our campers a warm, safe welcome

As June arrives, our town is preparing to welcome hundreds of visitors for the summer camp season. We look forward to seeing those who have been here before, and to greeting the many new faces who will experience our amazing natural surroundings and camps for the first time.

As you drive around Mentone, keep an eye out for groups of campers and counselors walking, riding bikes, and enjoying our new sidewalks. When you see them in the shops and restaurants around town, give them a friendly greeting and welcome them to Mentone. And don’t forget to say “hello” to those parents who bring their children, many of whom stay a night or two in our area, enjoy the natural beauty, and shop and dine here.

Please be sure to read the lead story in this month’s issue of The Groundhog regarding the new garbage collection service. To recap, the DeKalb County Commission entered into an agreement with four municipalities to take over garbage service for areas currently covered by Meridian Waste (a contract formerly held by ADSI). The City of Henagar will handle our area. As you know, we’ve had several problems with garbage collection in the past and this new arrangement will improve on many of them.

This will be a more efficient operation, and it will keep our money here in the county instead of sending it out of state. Of course, Mentone is unique in that we have an active bear population and we have lots of vacation rentals. Henagar Mayor Lee Davis has personally spoken with and even visited several Mentone residents who are concerned about the new service, particularly the fact that operators of the automated collection trucks do not exit the vehicles to unlock cans or enclosures. This will be an inconvenience for some people, I know, but I encourage those who are impacted to put their focus and energies toward meeting this challenge. Please share any ideas which would help the community meet the bear/garbage challenge.

Jared Carter with North Alabama Trails and Recreation visited Mentone last month to share information with the town council about improvements to Brow Park. His group has agreed to provide a $15,000 grant to help with the project, which will clear underbrush from the overlook and allow us to eventually build a trail off the side of the mountain. The council voted to proceed with a grant proposal to the Resource Conservation & Development Council for a $35,000 Community Development Grant to complete the clearing portion of this project. There is no matching fund requirement for either of these grants.

There are other phases to this project, but this is a start. The town will work with Ladd Environmental and TARCOG in applying for another grant for other improvements. As an area dependent on visitors, many of whom come here for outdoor recreation, the Brow Park trail project will create another reason for people to visit our town and enjoy nature and provide residents with an additional hiking/walking option.