School improvement plans were approved by the Eastern Pulaski School Board Monday, according to Superintendent Dan Foster. He says each school’s plan tries to identify some areas of concern, as well as strengths.
All posts by Michael Gallenberger
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Reviews This Year’s Manufacturers Day Event
Almost 400 middle and high school students took part in the Starke County Economic Development Foundation’s Manufacturers Day events last week. That’s according to Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford.
Knox Leaf Pickup Starts Monday
Fall leaf pickup will start Monday in the City of Knox. “The first few, two to three weeks, they just do the whole city, as needed,” Mayor Dennis Estok told the city council Tuesday. “When the leaves really start coming down, then they go by districts.”
Hamlet Council President Urges INDOT to Address Safety Concerns at U.S. 30 Construction Site
Hamlet officials are demanding answers from INDOT, after a U.S. 30 construction project has led to a spike in accidents. During Wednesday’s town council meeting, Council President Dave Kesvormas complained that the town wasn’t told about the work ahead of time. “Legally, technically, U.S. 30 goes through town because that parcel on the northeast side of 30 is our parcel, so 30 goes through,” he explained. “The state didn’t contact us, nor did the contractor, and yet, we’ve had all these series of accidents.”
Pulaski County Council, Commissioners Hear Fiscal Planning Proposals
Pulaski County officials continue to consider hiring an outside consultant to help put together a fiscal plan for the county. The county council and commissioners heard presentations from two firms Monday, but no final action was taken by the commissioners. County officials have been looking at adjusting the county’s tax structure for over a year. It currently relies heavily on income taxes, which is expected to become an increasing problem as the county’s population continues to decline.
Pulaski County EMS Department Looking to Fill Vacancies
Pulaski County Emergency Medical Services’ staffing challenges appear to have returned. “In about the last week-and-a-half to two weeks, I have had two full-time employees submit their letters of resignation,” EMS Director Bryan Corn told the county commissioners last week. “So now, unfortunately, we are back to having three openings.”
Eastern Pulaski School Board Adopts 2019 Budget
The Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation’s 2019 budget was officially adopted by the school board Monday. It adds up to just over $15.8 million.
Knox Fire Department Offers Educational Outreach, Smoke Detector Help for Fire Prevention Month
The City of Knox is recognizing Fire Prevention Month. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston discussed some of the planned activities with the city council Tuesday. “The fire department will start having classes with Little Lambs and Head Start on Wednesday and at the elementary school with the children on Thursday,” he said. “And I think it’s important to teach our kids, ‘Don’t play with fire.'”
Pulaski County Announces Plan to Address Accessibility, Security at Government Offices
Improvements will soon be coming to Pulaski County’s government offices. During Monday’s county council meeting, Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston announced a plan to improve accessibility, security, efficiency, and usability. “The plan itself is only in the infant stages of development, and there’s a lot of work to do before the completed plan can be presented in its entirety,” he said. Continue reading
Confusion Remains Over Proposed Changes to Pulaski County’s Campaign Sign Regulations
The Pulaski County Commissioners last week decided to hold off on changes to the county’s campaign sign regulations, due to confusion about the advisory plan commission’s recommendation. Last month, the plan commission voted to recommend removing the “special signs” portion of the Unified Development Ordinance.
Crews Working on Punch List Items to Wrap Up Eastern Pulaski Asphalt, Concrete Project
Crews are putting the finishing touches on the Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation’s summer paving project. “The asphalt and concrete is pretty close,” Superintendent Dan Foster says. Continue reading
John Street Residents Ask Knox Officials to Add Speed Limit Sign
Speeding vehicles are drawing concerns from residents on the east end of John Street in Knox. Linda and Dave Metz told the city council Tuesday that there are no speed limit signs on eastbound John Street past Williams Street, and some drivers seem to think they may go as fast as they want. They said that with the number of children who live in the area, along with turkeys and deer in the woods along the street, there’s a high risk of an accident.
Pulaski County Council Approves 2019 Budget, Salary Matrix But Leaves Several Issues Unresolved
The Pulaski County Council almost forgot to adopt the 2019 budget Monday. The approval finally came after more than four hours of occasionally contentious discussions but relatively little action on several budget-related items.
County Offices to Move into Former Winamac Masonic Lodge by End of October
The conversion of the former Winamac Masonic Lodge into a county morgue and office building will be done by the end of October. Pulaski County Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston told the county commissioners last Monday that the construction phase of the work should wrap up by the end of this week. “The cooler and all of that equipment will be installed as soon as that’s done,” he explained, “and then, we’ll start moving offices in.”
School Custodian Repairs Winamac Town Park Toilet, Amid Dispute Between School, Park Board
A broken toilet that’s been a point of contention between the Winamac Park Board and the Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation has been repaired, thanks to a school custodian. That’s what Park Manager Dave DeLorenzo told the park board last Thursday. “I received a phone call last night, in the evening, from Steve Lawson, who is a maintenance person at the school,” DeLorenzo said. “He, on his own time, went and repaired the toilet in the bathrooms up at the ball diamonds that the school was unwilling to address, and he decided that he would take care of that on his own.”
Pulaski County Council to Adopt 2019 Budget, Consider Tax Abatement Request
The Pulaski County Council is scheduled to adopt the county’s 2019 budget tonight, but a number of issues still have to be addressed. Assessor Holly VanDerAa has been calling for a tax increase to make up a shortfall in the county’s Reassessment budget. She says the change would reduce the need for various costs to be paid out of the county’s General Fund.
Pulaski County Auditor Looking Into Outsourcing Payroll and Time Clocks
Pulaski County officials are researching the possibility of outsourcing the county’s payroll and time clocks. Auditor Laura Wheeler told the county commissioners last week that the county currently pays $25,000 a year for its 11 time clocks.
Winamac Park Board Decides Not to Hire Outside Mowing Contractor
The Winamac Park Board has decided not to contract out the mowing of the Town Park, but may use some extra part-time help on an as-needed basis. Park Manager Dave DeLorenzo told board members last week that he’s been able to get some help from other town departments, and when that’s not available, he can get someone to help him part-time. “I know that I have the ability to make a phone call and get a little part-time help,” he said. “I mean a day here or a day there. I’m not going to abuse that, at all.”
Winamac Park Board Approves $4,200 Tree Removal Quote
Trees will be removed in the Winamac Town Park this fall. On Thursday, the park board approved a $4,200 quote from Practical Tree Service to remove a total of 15 trees. It was the lowest of a wide range of cost estimates the board had received.
Pulaski County Commissioners Agree to Let Judge Shurn Keep Cell Phone Number, Email Address
Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn will be allowed to keep his county-issued email address and cell phone number once he retires at the end of the year. The county commissioners approved the arrangement Monday, on the condition that Shurn cover all the associated costs in the future. Commissioner Kenny Becker said the county’s IT director will have to work on separating Shurn’s phone and email from the county’s billing.
