The North Judson-San Pierre School Board members will hold the first reading over board policies when they meet tonight.
Members are also anticipated to act on the approval of tax anticipation warrant bids and a resolution that will authorize Treasurer Guy Richie to pay claims and make transfers. Elementary Principal Julie Berndt and Junior-Senior High School principal Jim Polite will present building reports to the school board members.
Pulaski County officials are trying to figure out how to keep the county’s salary matrix intact, while also ensuring the smooth operations of the Highway Department.
The Hamlet Town Council has formally recognized Brad Hazelton as the Hamlet-Davis Township fire chief. Hazelton has already been leading the department for the past few months.
The Culver Town Council members opened bids for surplus equipment at the street department and the ambulance during their meeting last week.
The highest bids were approved which included $2,900 for a 1999 leaf vac machine, $2,500 for the 1964 grader, $150 for the 1993 Patchman trailer, $1,500 for the 2000 Ford F-150, and $1,500 a 2000 Leeboy 300 roller. Utility Superintendent Bob Porter was pleased with the bids as they came in higher than he expected.
The Starke County Council will be reviewing several transfers and budgets during their monthly meeting tonight.
Starke County EMS, IT Director Mark Gourley and Surveyor Bill Crase will discuss transfer requests, and Sheriff Bill Dulin will discuss his budget status and present transfer requests. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver will have his monthly report and initiate discussion on the appropriation of Fund 112.
Changes to Pulaski County’s Unified Development Ordinance will be considered by the county commissioners this morning. The updates would provide guidelines for the development of breweries, distilleries, and wineries – things that aren’t addressed in the county’s current ordinance. Similarly, specifications would be put in place for short term-rentals, such as AirBnb.
Winamac town council members opened mowing bids for the town cemetery when they met last Monday.
Council President Tom Murray opened two bids for the mowing contracts. The first came from Councilman Dan Vanaman for $1,950. President Murray mentioned that an insurance certificate came with the bid and that it indicated that the price for mow and trim for each time.
The second bid came Compton Lawn Care for $2,875 per mowing. President Murray said he believed they couldn’t meet the terms of the bid since it indicated that payment terms due five business days after invoice and the invoice would be submitted immediately after the mowing job. Continue reading
You may have noticed a bit of a change in downtown Knox. Other than the Christmas decorations brightening things up a bit, 10 new LED bulbs are now lining Main Street.
Last Tuesday, Mayor Estok explained that the new lights that were able to be installed without any additional steps. Previously, there was a concern that the existing ballasts would need to be bypassed, but after communicating with the company, it was found that they could be installed as is. Continue reading
Eastern Pulaski School Board members highlighted some very distinguished students at their meeting last week.
The Winamac Middle School Junior Honor Society was recognized during the “spotlight” segment of the meeting. Superintendent Dan Foster explained that the program is a precursor to the high school level Honor Society. Continue reading
North Judson Town Council members will hold a discussion over railroad committee bylaws when they meet tonight.
Additionally, members will appoint a member to the Public Library Board and consider a resolution to transfer funds.
Department heads will also provide reports to the council members. Town Marshal Kelly Fisher will deliver an update about the fundraisers that have been put in place since she presented a proposal about bringing on a dual-purpose K9 to the North Judson Police Department at the last town council meeting Continue reading
The Knox School Board has a light agenda for tonight’s regular meeting. Board members are scheduled to consider the hiring of two computer hardware technicians, a substitute teacher, substitute custodian, and substitute bus driver. Continue reading
Pulaski County is moving ahead with upgrades to its data backup system. The county commissioners voted Monday to buy a new Unitrends backup device. That involves an up-front cost of $25,000 for the device itself, plus $6,900 a year for support.
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation plans to continue its partnership with the Starke County Youth Club over the coming years. m says the two groups recently signed a memorandum of understanding, allowing them to keep working together through May of 2022. Continue reading
The Starke County Forest is starting to build up some savings. It’s designed to be a self-sufficient park facility, with timber sales being the main funding source. Forester Bruce Wakeland told the Starke County Park Board Tuesday that the forest will soon have enough money on hand to start looking at some improvement projects.
During their Monday night meeting, Winamac Town Council members were notified that renovations to the new Police Station are nearing completion.
Employees from the water, sewage, street and electric departments have assisted with the project for the last several months. Town Manager Brad Zellers previously stated that approximately $70,000 was saved just by utilizing town employees for certain aspects of the project. Continue reading
The Culver Town Council members adopted two ordinances this week.
An ordinance was approved on second and third reading that allows a retiring police officer, who has served at last 20 years in law enforcement, the ability to retain his or her service weapon, badge and identification cards.
New lighting will be installed at the Culver-Union Township Fire Department.
Fire Chief Terry Wakefield told Culver Town Council members this week that he’s been working for a long time to update the lighting to include LED lights. He said the cost for the 51 lights needed for the project is $7,896.30. NIPSCO will review the work and reimburse the town $80 per light. He said it works with the lighting package they have through NIPSCO.
Eastern Pulaski Schools recently held several powerful presentations led by Sergeant Terry Hall, a 28-year veteran of the Indianapolis Police Department and former director of the child neglect and abuse prevention program “Good Touch-Bad Touch.”
Terry Hall is the founder and presenter for the “Body Safety Program” which teaches children of all ages important lessons about body autonomy and inappropriate behaviors that should be reported.
Superintendent Dan Foster explained that Hall presented at the elementary and middle schools last year and this year they were able to have him speak at the high school level, thanks to grant funding.
Foster spoke very highly of Hall, saying that he was able to effectively incorporate the same kind of lessons in different ways to address a variety of age groups. Continue reading
Knox City Council members amended their meeting agenda Tuesday night, in order include Fire Chief Kenny Pfost’s annual report.
Pfost explained that the fire department’s year ran from December 1st of 2016 through November 30th of this year. He said there was a total of 256 calls which was up 60 runs from last year. He stated that 133 of those were medical-related, resulting in 28 more medical calls than the previous year. Continue reading
Hamlet residents have a week to get ready for this year’s decorating contest. Judging will take place Saturday, December 23 between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. Clerk-Treasurer Kristina Pitts announced the date of the contest during Wednesday’s town council meeting.
