The North Judson Town Council unanimously approved the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan during their meeting last week.
Starke County Emergency Management Agency Director Tori Chessor presented the document to the council during an earlier meeting but they agreed to take it under advisement. With their approval of the plan last week, the North Judson Town Council joins the Hamlet Town Council and the Knox City Council with compliance.
An approved local mitigation plan, including adoption by the local government, is one of the conditions for applying for and/or receiving FEMA mitigation grants from the following programs: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program post-fire, building resilient infrastructure and communities, and flood mitigation assistance.
The Starke County Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is good for five years from the date of June 2024. The County EMA director, in collaboration with multiple municipal corporations located within Starke County, will begin work on the upcoming plan in early 2028 to ensure the new Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is properly completed, adopted by local government and participating jurisdictions, and approved on time so that the county in a whole will remain in good standing with FEMA’s mitigation grant programs.
In other news, the North Judson Town Council approved a new contract with Baker Tilly who helps the town with budget work, comprehensive financial plan, utility annual reports, and annual financial report, required Rural Development reporting, and the annual additional appropriation analysis. Eric Walsh from Baker Tilly said the town has become more efficient with adding a town manager and additional staff in the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office which has reduced the number of hours needed by Baker Tilly. The town has also improved with its financial outlook. The proposed contract was at 180 hours at a cost of $45,000. The town would be refunded any hours not used or rolled over to the next year’s contract.
Additionally, the town council approved Tony Dye as a member of the North Judson Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. The council is seeking a Republican candidate for the North Judson Park Board.
