The Town of North Judson will be able to leverage grant money for sidewalk and ramp replacement as part of their ADA improvement plan. Town board members approved a contract with consulting firm Fleis and Vandenbrink to assist with that project. The town’s plan calls for sidewalks to be replaced in 2015 and 2016 as funds allow. However, the 80-20 matching grant will allow the town to stretch its resources. The process is in the very early planning stages, and there’s no timeline yet for when work will be done.
In other business, Wendy Hoppe was reelected town council president. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry swore in recently reelected council members Josh Brown and Justin Davis. Both were appointed to the council when it expanded from a three to a five-member board and were just elected to their first four-year terms.
Council members appointed Jeff Abrams as building inspector. He replaces Tony Benson. By virtue of that position Abrams will also serve on the town’s unsafe building committee. Council members still need to fill two seats on that board. Other appointments include Jill Bejes to a four-year term on the park board and Rich Warner to the railroad advisory committee. Mike Sharkozy and Ken Dolezal were reappointed to the planning commission. Jerry Jernas, Tina Hittle and John Silhavey were reappointed to the BZA. The town still has two positions to fill on that board.
Hoppe will serve as the town’s representative on the Starke County Economic Development Commission Board of Directors and the railroad advisory board. Josh Brown was appointed to the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission and Tim Cummins to the Starke County Solid Waste Board.
Davis was named the town’s liaison for utilities, water and sewer; Brown will work with the police department; and Cummins will serve in that capacity with the town fire department and human resources.
