Starke County Plan Commission Postpones Solar Farm Hearing to Next Week

map of the rezoning request provided by the Starke County Plan Commission

Bass Lake-area residents will have to wait until next week to weigh in on a rezoning request that would pave the way for a potential solar farm. A company called Starke Solar, LLC is asking Starke County to rezone more than 800 acres in California and North Bend townships on the south side of Bass Lake, mainly from residential to agricultural. That, in turn, would allow for the installation of solar panels.

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Metro Recycling Responds to Residents’ Concerns with North Judson Transfer Station

 
 

Concerns with a recycling transfer station planned for the North Judson area have led to a response from the company, as well as local economic development officials. Metro Recycling is currently moving ahead with a permitting process with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The company plans to add a recycling transfer station on Oakwood Street in the North Judson Industrial Park. Continue reading

Starke Commissioners to Consider CAFO Fees

Starke County CommissionersThe Starke County Commissioners will consider amendments to the confined animal feeding ordinance fee schedule when they meet this evening. The Starke County Plan Commission recently approved a flat $500 flat permit, along with a $75 filing fee to offset the cost of processing the application. They also doubled the re-inspection fee to $100 for all permits. It will be charged when the county is called out to conduct an inspection, but the work is deemed to be incomplete. Continue reading

Starke County Hopes to Take Possession of Former San Pierre Bank

The former San Pierre Bank building in its glory days. Photo courtesy of the Starke County Historical Society
The former San Pierre Bank building in its glory days. Photo courtesy of the Starke County Historical Society

Starke County may soon be able to move ahead with the demolition of a dilapidated San Pierre building. The former San Pierre Bank has become a safety concern for the community, to the point where the county has had to install barriers around the building. Continue reading

Starke County Plan Commission Updates Fee Schedule

 An updated permit fee schedule for unincorporated areas of Starke County was approved Wednesday by the County Plan Commission. No comments on the proposed changes were offered from the public. However, Plan Commission Director Terry Stephenson had an issue with the permit fee for accessory buildings, which covers everything from pre-built sheds to garages to pole barns.  Continue reading

Starke Commissioners Amend Unsafe Building Ordinance

starke-county-courthouseThe Starke County Commissioners adopted amendments to the county’s unsafe building ordinance last night amid enthusiastic support from members of the public. Koontz Lake residents in particular attended the meeting and expressed frustration with the prevalence of visible junk vehicles, trash and other debris they say are driving down property values and affecting quality of life. Concerns were also raised about trash that’s not properly disposed of attracting rodents and potentially spreading diseases. Continue reading