The Starke County Commissioners will get their first status report of 2014 from the manager of Bass Lake Beach and Campground when they meet this evening. Richard Callahan has a contract with the county to manage the amenities. He and his attorney, Dave Wallsmith, are first on the agenda for the 7 p.m. meeting. Starke County EMS Director Paul Matthewson will also discuss his desire to add a paramedic at the North Judson base to provide better emergency medical response for the county. Other items on the agenda include approval of a uniform contract for the highway department and modification of the county’s nepotism policy to mirror recent changes in state law. County attorney Marty Lucas told the commissioners at their last meeting that the county’s policy is more strict than what the state has on the books. The Starke County Council also meets this evening prior to the commissioners. Their agenda includes a public hearing to establish the county’s cumulative bridge and cumulative capital funds, a presentation from the park board committee and a discussion of changing departmental deputies from hourly to salaried wages. They would remain full-time employees. The council meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. Both bodies meet at the county annex building.
