The Starke County Council members opened public hearings for the 2018 county budgets 7and the Solid Waste District with no public comment Monday night. The budget presented by the council totals $11,647,011. The General Fund is listed on Indiana Gateway as $7,022,851.
The 2018 Starke County Airport Budget was adopted with a total of $302,659. Phase one of a runway extension project is included for next year. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Director Charlie Weaver explained that the entire project was not fully funded by the FAA so only a portion will be completed with plans to gather grant funding for phase two.
The county council members tabled a request from Coroner Dannie Hoffer for an increase in his pay from $7,500 to $9,000 in the 2018 budget. The council members would like more details on surrounding county wages, death calls, assessed valuation, and a possible job description and position policy manual.
The council members would also prefer that Hoffer use an 800 mhz radio to be called to a scene. There is also a question about his ability to take the vehicle home that is used when responding to calls.
The council will discuss the issue further when they meet in a special session on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 5:30 p.m. in the meeting room in the Starke County Annex Building No. 1 in Knox.
