Hamlet Police Adjust Ticketing Procedures for Traffic Violations

The Town of Hamlet has recently changed the way it issues tickets for speeding, seat belt violations, and other similar offenses, more info here on these changes issued . Town officials say that for the past few years, Hamlet Police had been treating traffic offenses as town ordinance violations, after other municipalities adopted similar procedures.

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Culver School Board Accepts Donations for Reading Program, Costa Rica Trip

Some Culver Community Schools programs will be getting a boost, thanks to a pair of donations accepted by the school board Monday. “Culvers Lion’s Club gave the Spanish Club $500 for their Costa Rica trip, and the Culver PTO has given both $500 to the elementary and then to the middle school reading program,” explained Superintendent Karen Shuman.

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Starke County Prosecutor’s Office Coordinates With Indiana State Police on Wayne Township Audit Investigation

Between 2009 and 2016, approximately $20,278 was overpaid to the Trustee and Deputy Trustee of Wayne Township, according to information found in a 2017 Indiana State Board of Accounts audit.

After a compliance report allegedly uncovered some discrepancies with salary and rent payments in Wayne Township, the Starke County Prosecutor’s Office began coordinating with the Indiana State Police on an investigation into the accusations made against Trustee Clara Schacht and her husband, Deputy Trustee Donald Schacht. Continue reading

North Judson Town Council Approves Amended Salary Ordinance

An amended salary ordinance passed on second reading and was adopted during Monday night’s North Judson Town Council meeting.

At the last meeting, Town Attorney Justin Schramm explained that the initial salary ordinance, which included a 3 percent raise for various department heads and the town council members, was adopted on January 2nd of 2018.

He said the State Board of Accounts could potentially have a problem with council members receiving raises in the same year they’re approved, so to be on the safe side, the salary ordinance was rewritten to remove the council members from the list of individuals who received a 3 percent raise in 2018. Continue reading

Knox City Council Approves New Vehicle for Building and Code Compliance Officer

The purchase of a new vehicle for the Knox Building and Code Compliance Officer was approved at last night’s city council meeting. Compliance Officer Kenny Pfost has been utilizing his personal vehicle since the old city-issued vehicle broke down.

Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston mentioned that the $36,000 needed for the vehicle purchase will be split up between three separate accounts. He said that $10,000 would come out of the cumulative capital development repairs and maintenance fund, $8,600 would be from rental registration and $17,400 will be come from the edit account for the Knox Industrial Park. Continue reading

Independent Bank Accounts Draw Concerns from Pulaski County Auditor

Pulaski County is looking to keep a closer eye on some of its bank accounts. Auditor Laura Wheeler told the county council Wednesday that most county bank accounts are supposed to be under the jurisdiction of the treasurer, with all transactions being handled by the auditor. However, some departments have apparently set up their own independent accounts. Continue reading