Some Pulaski County Employees Asked to Give Back Pay Raises, Council Adopts Written Salary Guidelines

As the Pulaski County Council tries to clarify the county’s pay structure, department heads continue to express frustration over how it’s been implemented so far. Last month, Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston complained that while two of his part-time employees got a pay raise after working for 630 hours with the apparent blessing of the council, the same increase wasn’t given to a third staff member. Now, he says the Auditor’s Office has not only taken away the raises from the first two employees, but that they’re now being asked to pay that money back.  Continue reading

Pulaski Plan Commission Will Again Try to Narrow Down Proposed Wind Turbine Regulations Tonight

The Pulaski County Advisory Plan Commission will continue working on updates to the county’s wind turbine regulations tonight. The goal is to come up with a list of proposed changes to the county’s Unified Development Ordinance, to address concerns over a proposed wind farm. But after multiple meetings, the plan commission still hasn’t created anything solid enough to present for a public hearing.

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Pulaski Council to Consider Written Salary Guidelines, Funding for Courthouse Elevator Replacement

A set of written guidelines on Pulaski County’s pay structure are expected to be approved during tonight’s county council meeting. An 11-page draft document was presented to council members last month, and department heads were given a chance to offer input. The guidelines are designed to clarify a number of issues, including the pay rate for part-time employees and the process of amending the pay structure going forward.

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Winamac Park Board to Look at Converting Tennis Court into Dual-Purpose Facility

Entrance to the Winamac Town Park

The Winamac Park Board has come up with a solution that will let the town expand its pickleball facilities while keeping its tennis court. During last week’s meeting, board member Jon Chapman suggested resurfacing the remaining tennis court, but re-striping it for both sports. That way, when the court isn’t being used for tennis, it could be converted into two side-by-side pickleball courts by adding temporary nets.

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Koontz Lake Fire Department Rescue Vehicle Involved in Crash While Responding to Fatal Accident

 

Thursday’s fatal crash in Marshall County led to a second accident involving a Koontz Lake Fire Department rescue vehicle. The initial crash happened in the area of U.S. 6 and Quince Road just before 1:00 p.m., when Marshall County Police say a Chevy flatbed truck tried to pass a Buick Century that was about to turn left. The driver of the Buick, Judith Masterson, 69, of Plymouth, eventually died from her injuries.

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Pulaski County on Track to Save $25,000, After Outsourcing Lawn Care

Outsourcing lawn care appears to be working well for the Pulaski County government. Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston told the county commissioners Monday it’s still a learning experience for both him and contractor TK Lawn Services, but he thinks it will be a good working relationship. “By the end of this year, I’ll have a solid understanding of how much contracting this out has saved the county,” he said, “but at this point, so far, it looks like about $25,000, when you figure all the different things in, from me not needing to replace one person that I lost, to fuel savings and that sort of thing.”

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Flash Flood Warning Issued for Portions of Starke, Pulaski Counties

 

Those in southwestern Starke County and northwestern Pulaski County are urged to be on the lookout for flash flooding over the next few hours. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for those areas until 1:45 p.m. CDT Friday. Thunderstorms with heavy rain may cause flooding of small creeks and streams, as well as roads and fields. Drivers are urged to turn around if they encounter a flooded road.

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Winamac Park Restroom, Toddler Playground Upgrades Will Have to Wait for Lengthy Grant Process

Entrance to the Winamac Town Park

It may be a while before the Winamac Town Park gets its new restrooms and playground equipment. The park board’s application for a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant has been turned in to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. But Park Board President Courtney Poor said Thursday that state approval is only half of the process. Continue reading