Pulaski County Emergency Medical Services is taking steps to formalize the finances of its training program. During a public hearing on the county’s 2019 budget last week, EMS Director Bryan Corn told the county council that his department is certified to offer emergency medical technician classes. But he said the training program’s finances haven’t been tracked properly.
Hamlet Council Decides to Hold Off on Railroad Street Grant Application until January
After two rounds of bidding, the Hamlet Town Council has decided not to pursue grant funding for Railroad Street improvements at this time. Council members voted Wednesday to reject all three paving bids and table a Community Crossings application until the January call for projects.
Knox City Council Adopts 2019 Budget
The Knox City Council voted to adopt the city’s 2019 budget Tuesday. The total budget adds up to almost $3.1 million, with more than $1.6 million of that being the General Fund.
Hamlet Council to Consider Revised Bids for Railroad Street Improvements, Adopt 2019 Budget
The Hamlet Town Council will make a second attempt tonight at choosing a contractor for Railroad Street improvements. Council members decided last week to give the three bidders a chance to revise their estimates, after the council decided to cut sidewalk work and tree removal out of the project. The town plans to apply for a Community Crossings grant to cover 75 percent of the cost, but the application has to be turned in by Friday.
Pulaski County Building Inspector Requests Funding for Full-Time Assistant
Pulaski County Building Inspector Doug Hoover is urging the county council to upgrade his assistant to full-time status. “We’ve got a person that deals with money, does everything with the computer, has got real estate license, got many different things, and you know what? The janitor that pushes a broom makes one dollar more than she does,” Hoover told council members during last week’s public hearing on the 2019 budget. “I’m not very pleased with that.”
Pulaski County Council Plans Salary Matrix Overhaul
Pulaski County’s salary matrix will soon get an overhaul. That was the promise council member Scott Hinkle gave after department heads voiced concerns during last week’s public hearing on the 2019 budget.
Oregon-Davis School Board Reviews Proposed Budget Ahead of Work Session
The Oregon-Davis School Board members held a public hearing last week over the proposed 2019 Capital Projects Plan and the Bus Replacement Plan.
Medaryville Town Council Holds CDBG, Budget Public Hearings
The Medaryville Town Council members opened up their Wednesday night meeting to a pair of public hearings for the proposed application for a Community Development Block Grant and the town’s 2019 budget.
Pulaski County to Hold Off on Community Crossings Application Until January
The Pulaski County Highway Department apparently won’t be applying for Community Crossings funds this month.
Pulaski County Council Continues Discussing Tax Hike to Balance Reassessment Budget
A tax increase would still be needed to balance Pulaski County’s Reassessment budget, but it may not have to be as large as originally thought. Assessor Holly VanDerAa discussed several budget concerns during the county council’s public hearing on the 2019 budget Wednesday.
Pulaski County Council to Discuss Assessor’s Budget, During Tonight’s Public Budget Hearing
How to balance the Pulaski County Assessor’s budget is expected to be a topic of discussion when the county council holds its public budget hearing tonight. Assessor Holly VanDerAa has been asking council members to think about raising the reassessment tax, to help keep up with rising costs. But they had decided to wait for an analysis of the county’s finances that’s currently under consideration.
Starke County Council Discusses Additional Staff for EMS, Sheriff’s Department
The Starke County Council members discussed requests from the Starke County EMS Department and the Starke County Sheriff’s Department for additional staff members in 2019.
No Major Changes Proposed for 2019 Hamlet Budget
The Hamlet Town Council reviewed its 2019 budget proposal last week. It calls for a total budget of just over $467,000. About $323,000 of that would be the town’s General Fund. The Motor Vehicle Highway Fund would be budgeted at $58,200, while the Park budget would be $11,900. Clerk-Treasurer Kristina Pitts noted that there are no major changes from the 2018 budget.
State May Be Looking to Crack Down on Courthouse Security, Judge Tells Pulaski Council
If Pulaski County doesn’t take action to secure its court system, the state may decide to step in. That’s what Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn told the county council Monday. “The Supreme Court promulgates what we call administrative rules,” he explained. “Security’s always been in the administrative rules. And they had a committee that suggested ‘should’ in some of the stuff. And the board which controls all of the judges sent to the Supreme Court the rule I gave you, which was created by the committee, again, with revisions, and it said ‘It shall,’ not ‘should.’”
Pulaski County Commissioners Agree to Replacement of Justice Center Fire Alarm System in 2019
The Pulaski County Justice Center will get a new fire alarm system next year. Last week, the county commissioners agreed to let Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston proceed with the project. He told them that the county council has agreed to earmark $39,000 in the 2019 budget, but he’s still trying to get another quote to possibly bring that cost down.
Winamac Park Board Finalizes 2019 Budget Proposal
The Winamac Park Board is asking for a slight increase in its Park budget. Clerk-Treasurer Melanie Berger reviewed the 2019 budget proposal during last week’s board meeting. She explained that it’s about $900 larger than this year’s budget. Berger said the park board has been doing a good job of staying within its budget, and if spending and revenue projections hold true, the park board can expect to increase its cash reserves by almost $15,000 by the end of 2019.
West Central School Board Prepares for New School Funding Structure
The West Central School Board is moving forward with preparations for the corporation’s 2019 budget. A major change from the current budget is the consolidation of four of the corporation’s funds into two, as part of Indiana’s overhaul of the school funding structure.
Winamac Park Board to Discuss Drinking Fountains, Budget
The Winamac Park Board will get an update on drinking fountains when it meets tonight. Board members previously agreed to accept the donation of two decorative drinking fountains for the Town Park and to share the cost of another drinking fountain to be placed in Rinehart Park.
Pulaski County Election Board to Request $600 Raise for Clerk
Pulaski County Clerk Christi Hoffa would get a pay raise for her duties with the county election board, under its 2019 budget proposal. Hoffa reviewed the proposal with the rest of the election board Monday. She explained that much of the budget work was done before board members Jon Frain and Laura Bailey were replaced by Patty Sullivan and Jessye Gilley.
Wage and Salary Schedule Put in Place for Culver School Employees
The Culver School Board has adopted a wage and salary schedule for school employees. Superintendent Karen Shuman says it lists all of the positions that exist in the corporation, along with their starting salaries. It also outlines the increments of raises, based on employees’ performance evaluations. Shuman says the wage and salary schedule doesn’t involve any major changes to employees’ existing pay levels.
