The Starke County Highway Department will make improvements to Arlington Avenue in North Judson in the spring in anticipation of absorbing it into their inventory for tax purposes. The three-quarter mile street is just outside the town limits of North Judson and is the main artery to the industrial park.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver last week to put the rest of his five-year infrastructure improvement plan on hold if the county would allocate $60,000 of economic development income tax money for the paving project.
The actual cost for the county highway department to upgrade the shoulder, apply pug asphalt and chip seal the road is closer to $35,000, according to highway superintendent Rik Ritzler. He notes the road will need another pug and chip seal application in 10 years.
The initial work needs to be done before the county will accept the road into its inventory. Weaver notes doing so will generate $2,500 in tax revenue from the state and save the county $2,400 annually in fire hydrant fees.
North Judson Industrial Park tenants include American Oak and Johnny on the Spot. Metro Recycling will begin operations there in the spring.
The council agreed to allocate $35,000 for the initial paving. Ritzler notes it will be done in the spring.
