During the recent meeting of the Starke County Commissioners, County Extension Director Julia Miller, Purdue Extension Starke County, presented the annual contractual services that the County Commissioner President signs each year. In that document, it includes a budget that has been previously approved by the Starke County Council.
She noted that there is a 4-H Educator, the Health and Human Sciences and the Ag and Natural Resources Educator in that office.
The commissioners approved the signing of the contractual services.
IT Director Stanley Budd requested approval to purchase replacement servers for the county’s infrastructure. The funds are already in his budget. He provided quotes but recommended a quote from SuperMicro. That quote was approved.
County Assessor Michelle Schouten came before the commissioners with an issue that she says hasn’t happened before in her department. One of her employees lost their keys to the annex building along with all of the rest of her keys several months ago. The Assessor told the commissioners that the keys went missing months prior to the Assessor being made aware of the situation. It is the belief that the employee’s toddler may have thrown them in the trash.
Commissioner Mark Gourley said that while he was “fairly confident” that the keys were in fact lost in the trash, he did find it “a little troubling that it’s been months that were allowed to go by before it was reported.” Schouten commented that the employee thought that she would be able to find them.
The commissioners asked Schouten to make sure the employee continues to search for the missing keys.
Additionally, the commissioners approved a motion to purchase a dishwasher for the Sheriff’s Department in the amount of $15,255.24 to be taken from Jail CEDIT.
The 2025 meeting schedule was approved. Meetings will remain the same time and place as in 2024.
Bass Lake and Koontz Lake Easements were brought up by Commissioner Don Binkley. He said that he would like to see the county survey the easements because of residents building structures close to the easements. The commissioners were acceptable to bids being looked at for the surveys and they will start that process.
