The Pulaski County Community Development Commission will present its annual update on the county’s economy next week. The 2018 Pulaski County Economic Development Summit will be held Tuesday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. EDT at the former Monterey Elementary School.
Public Hearings to be Held on Stellar Communities Designation Projects in Culver
The projects funded by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) as part of the Stellar Communities Designation Program in Culver will undergo public hearings this month and in May.
Knox City Council Members Receive Annual Update About Redevelopment Commission & TIF Districts
As the Treasurer of the Knox Redevelopment Commission, Jeff Houston is required to submit an annual update to the fiscal body regarding the commission and the City’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts prior to April 1st each year.
When Knox City Council members met last Tuesday on March 27th, Houston reported the city has two TIF Districts; the Original TIF and the Industrial Park TIF.
He explained that in 2017, the original TIF fund received about $101,363 in revenue and nearly $36,979 was paid out in expenses. On the other hand, the revenue received in the Industrial Park TIF District remained the same as no expenses were paid out, according to Houston. Continue reading
North Judson Town Council Awards Bid for Cemetery Mowing Contract
T&J Lawn Care, out of Walkerton, will be handling the mowing services for Pioneer and Highland Cemeteries following a decision made by North Judson Town Council members Monday night.
The cemetery mowing contract was initially advertised back in March and individuals had a month to submit bids. The Town Council received and opened two bids last night.
The bid submitted by Tim Rhodes, the owner of T&J Lawn Care Services, was for a total of $12,000. The second bid, submitted by Mike Fanelli came in at $20,995. Continue reading
Hamlet Town-Wide Yard Sale Set for May
Good Oil Company Working to Redevelop Downtown Indianapolis Property
Chester, Inc. Recognized by Equipment Manufacturer
A locally-based agricultural services dealer is being recognized by an equipment manufacturer. Chester, Inc. of North Judson has been named a “Valley Performance Dealer” by Valley Irrigation.
North Judson Town Council to Open Cemetery Mowing Bids at Tonight’s Meeting
North Judson Town Council members will open bids for the cemetery mowing contract when they meet tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Members are also expected to consider an amended owner-engineer contract with Common Wealth Engineers. Continue reading
Knox Clerk-Treasurer Discusses Impact that Circuit Breaker Tax Caps Have on the City’s Budget
Knox City Council members were informed about some anticipated changes to local circuit breaker tax caps they met last Tuesday.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston said that on March 1st, he attended a meeting with the financial advisors at Umbaugh and Associates where they presented information about funding in local government and the analysis of assessed value.
He added that Mayor Dennis Estok, county representatives, local school administrators and other city and town officials were also in attendance at the March meeting. Continue reading
Knox BOW Receives Update on Distressed Structure at 6 N. Pearl Street
At the request of Knox Board of Public Works members, the owner of a distressed property at 6 North Pearl Street presented a project update at their meeting last Wednesday.
She informed the members that the work that was once been stalled is back on track and that the contractor is now on site. However, she added that he began work a week behind the scheduled start date, so they’re in the process of playing “catch-up” at the moment. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Commissioners will have updates from several departments when they meet tonight.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler will have a flood damage assessment update for the commissioners tonight along with other information from the highway department. EMS Director Travis Clary and Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie will provide an update as well as IT Director Mark Gourley.
Pulaski County Advisory Plan Commission, BZA to Work on Fee Schedule
The Pulaski County Advisory Plan Commission will soon be working toupdate the county’s fee schedule.
Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer told both the plan commission and board of zoning appeals members last week that the only fee schedule of record is for residential fees.
Pulaski County Commissioners to Meet Tonight
The Pulaski County Commissioners will meet in regular session tonight.
Discussions on wind turbines have taken center stage in Pulaski County over the past few weeks. The Pulaski County Plan Commission members and the Pulaski County Board of Zoning Appeals members heard from several citizens last week about their opposition of any large scale wind turbine farms or the placement of super turbines on any land in the county. The Pulaski County Commissioners have the topic on their agenda tonight.
Starke County Community Corrections Director Retiring
The Director of Starke County Community Corrections for the past nine years is entering retirement after Friday, April 6.
Robert Hinojosa has spent the past 30 years in community corrections with the majority of his experience in Lake County. He says Starke County has grown in the past nine years with communication between departments.
Town of Culver Opens Street Naming Contest
Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the town council members last week about a street naming contest.
Residents, business owners, students, and visitors are encouraged to submit their best idea of a street name for the road leading to the Sand Hill Farm workforce housing development in Culver. There is an unnamed portion of road off of the main artery into the property off of Jefferson Street that provides an entrance to the first phase of the apartment complex.
Starke County Election Board Establishes Training Dates for Poll Workers
Starke County Election Board members are in election preparation mode. Clerk Vicki Cooley said they discussed the training dates for poll workers when they met Wednesday morning.
Cooley said the training days will be held on Tuesday, May 1st and Thursday, May 3rd from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Saturday, May 5th from 10 a.m. until noon. Continue reading
Knox City Police Chief Requests Adding Reserve Officers to the Force
Knox City Police Chief Harold Smith submitted a request to add reserve officers to the police force at Wednesday morning’s Board of Works meeting.
He informed them, “Reserve officers are unpaid officers who volunteer their time to help their community and they must complete state-mandated training and continue training through the police department.” Continue reading
Culver Town Council Tables Annexation Ordinance
The annexation ordinance involving parcels at 17664 State Road 17 and 19456 State Road 10 in Culver is tabled. Thomas Beste recently requested that action in a written notice to the Culver Town Council. Two readings of the ordinance have unanimously passed, but the third reading will be on hold.
This decision comes after the council rejected the first reading of an ordinance that would rezone those 71 acres as a Planned Unit Development for a housing development and gas station. Several residents spoke out in a lengthy public hearing earlier this month against the proposed gas station on the north side of State Road 10.
Knox Man Sentenced to Home Detention, Probation in Hearing
A Knox man was sentenced per the terms of a plea agreement in a hearing in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday afternoon.
Frank Matkovich admitted to Judge Kim Hall that he was driving under the influence of alcohol while his license was forfeited for life in the area of McGill and Washington Streets in Knox on July 18, 2017. He said a police officer recognized him behind the wheel of his vehicle knowing that he had a suspended driver’s license.
Residents Discuss Loose Dogs with Hamlet Town Council
A few residents attended the Hamlet Town Council meeting this week to complain about the number of loose dogs in town.
The complaints are an extension from a February meeting where two residents reported their concerns about dogs that appear to be vicious. They don’t feel safe around their homes with the dogs hanging around the neighborhoods.
