Starke County Commissioners Approve Bids for Stellar Projects, Eliminates Project

The Starke County Commissioners considered a recommendation concerning the bids received and opened for the projects that will be funded with money from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).  The county was a finalist in the 2019 Regional Stellar Communities Designation process and funding was given to the county for that honor.  

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Getting COVID-19 Relief Could Depend on Mask Enforcement for Knox Businesses

The City of Knox hopes to be able to give more COVID-19 relief to local businesses, but whether they get it may depend on how well they enforce the mask order. Mayor Dennis Estok told the city council Tuesday that he plans to apply for the third round of the state’s COVID-19 Response Program. “I really think in our application that one of the questions that is going to be is, ‘Are you following the guidelines, the mask mandate, the social distancing, and all of that?’” Estok said.

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North Judson Town Council Secures Administration Services for $550,000 Community Block Development Grant

The North Judson Town Council members secured administrative assistance related to their $550,000 OCRA grant at their Monday night meeting. KIRPC Representative Shawn Cain presented a proposal for administrative services for the Community Development Block Grant funds that will be used for the town’s Drinking Water Project.

In previous meetings, Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann has shared that the Drinking Water Project includes adding a backup generator for the water system to address an Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) requirement, rehabilitating some of the town’s wells and conducting external and internal upgrades to both water towers to bring them up to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. Continue reading

Knox City Council Approves Fire Truck Purchase

The Knox City Council members voted unanimously to move forward with the purchase of a pumper truck for the Knox-Center Township Fire Department.

With the motion, members also permitted city officials to communicate with Umbaugh about obtaining a bond for the purchase of the fire truck. Mayor Dennis Estok said that Shawn Cain from KIRPC informed him that no grants are available at this time, so financing for this purchase will come the bond. Continue reading

Umbaugh Rep Presents Knox City Council with Financial Option for Fire Truck Purchase

At Tuesday night’s Knox City Council meeting, members heard a presentation about obtaining a bond to purchase a new fire truck. Fire Chief Kenny Pfost told council members that the vehicle they’re looking to replace is a pumper truck that is nearly 30 years old.

John Julien from Umbaugh provided the presentation and stated that the projected cost of the truck is approximately $600,000 and Umbaugh’s service charge would come in at about $50,000. Continue reading

KIRPC Housing Grant Construction to Start Before Fall

Shawn Cain of the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission held a public hearing last week in connection with a housing grant. Cain is the administrator for the grant, and she explained to those assembled at City Hall the details.

“The grant is going to help seniors make repairs on their homes. It’s to help give the selected homeowners an opportunity to age in place, to stay in their home and live independently.” said Cain.

Cain said that she has already met with several applicants, and will next be doing income verification. She next talked about the bidding process for the grant.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Waive Building Fees for KIRPC Housing Improvement Project

Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

A warmer winter than usual is in the works for eight low-income homeowners in Pulaski County, thanks to a grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. Shawn Cain from the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission appeared before the county commissioners to request they approve a waiver of building fees for these eight homes that have been selected to receive much-needed improvements at no cost to the owners.

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