Efforts to get a Main Street designation for Downtown Knox have gotten the official support of the city council. During their last meeting of 2020, council members agreed to partner with Knox Main Street United.
Continue readingPulaski County Council Considers Appropriating Funds for Ambulance Garage Expansion
The Pulaski County Council is moving ahead with funding arrangements for the Winamac ambulance garage. EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo reminded the county council last week that $135,000 had been budgeted for the work in 2019, but the year ended before he was able to spend much of it, since the actual construction got pushed back to this year.
Continue readingPulaski County Coroner to Solidify Deputies’ Job Descriptions with County Council
Pulaski County Coroner Jon Frain continues working to try to solidify some of his office’s policies. “Just a little history: notoriously, throughout the county’s handbook and other literature and stuff, even the website . . . the Coroner’s Office just doesn’t exist,” he told the county council last week, “and some of it’s like folklore. Some of it’s tradition. Some of it’s just kind of by the seat of our pants.”
Continue readingStarke County Election Board Fails to Approve Vote Center Plan
Vote centers will not be coming to Starke County in the near future. The vote center plan failed to get the required unanimous vote during the election board’s fourth attempt Wednesday.
Continue readingStarke County Election Board Makes Members’ Pay Contingent on Switch to Vote Centers
The Starke County Election Board will make a fourth attempt at approving a vote center plan. It once again failed to get the required unanimous vote during a special meeting Monday. Board Member Harrison Fields again cast the opposing vote.
Continue readingEastern Pulaski School Board Approves $1.2 Million Additional Appropriation
The Eastern Pulaski School Board took action Wednesday to fix a nearly $1.2 million error in the 2020 budget. Board members approved an additional appropriation of that amount to the Debt Service Fund, at the recommendation of Superintendent Dara Chezem.
Continue readingPulaski County Election Board Working on Technology Agreements for 2020 Elections
The Pulaski County Election Board is arranging tech support for this year’s election cycle.
Continue readingPulaski County Council’s Authority to Cut Election Board’s Pay Disputed
A 10-percent pay cut for all of Pulaski County’s board and commission members drew some concerns during Thursday’s election board meeting. During last fall’s budgeting process, the county council voted to cut their own pay, that of the county commissioners, and that of all other county board members in the 2020 budget. But Clerk JoLynn Behny said the council doesn’t have that authority, when it comes to the election board.
Continue readingHamlet May Explore Fee Increases in 2020
The Town of Hamlet may be looking at raising fees in 2020. Clerk-Treasurer Kristina Pitts told the town council Wednesday that meetings will have to be held in January to look at ways to increase revenue.
Continue readingNo Pay Raises Included in Hamlet’s 2020 Salary Ordinance
Hamlet town employees won’t be getting a pay raise next year. No changes were noted in the 2020 salary ordinance finalized by the town council Wednesday.
Continue readingEastern Pulaski School Board Readopts 2020 Budget to Fix Technical Issue
The Eastern Pulaski School Board took action last week to correct a slight issue with the 2020 budget. Interim Superintendent Dr. Gib Crimmins says because a number didn’t carry over into the state’s budget form, the budget had to be rescinded and readopted.
Continue readingPulaski County Council Approves 2020 Salary Matrix
The Pulaski County Council has finalized the 2020 salary matrix for county employees. Many of the changes approved Monday were designed to bring the matrix in line with the 2020 budget.
Continue readingState Approves 2020 Hamlet Budget with No Cuts
Hamlet’s 2020 budget has been finalized by the state without any cuts. Clerk-Treasurer Kristina Pitts told the town council Tuesday that the town got everything it asked for. That includes a General Fund of just over $311,000, a Motor Vehicle Highway Fund of almost $55,000 and a Park Fund of $8,600.
Continue readingPulaski EMS Director Discusses Ambulance Garage Construction Timeline with Council
Funding arrangements for the Winamac ambulance garage expansion were discussed during last week’s Pulaski County Council meeting. EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo explained that the contractor that won the bid can’t start until next year, meaning that most of the cost can’t come out of this year’s budget.
Continue readingRaises Proposed for Starke County Poll Workers But Meal Concerns Remain
Starke County poll workers may be getting a bigger raise than previously proposed, but not all election board members are on board with the proposed changes. Clerk Bernadette Welter-Manuel presented the rest of the board with some options, when it comes to poll worker pay.
Continue readingStarke County Election Board to Continue Working on Vote Center Proposal Today
The Starke County Election Board will put the finishing touches on its draft vote center plan today, before presenting it to the public next week. So far, the election board and county commissioners have settled on a list of seven vote center locations.
Continue readingPulaski County’s IT Contractor Plans to Quit in January
Pulaski County once again has a decision to make, when it comes to IT services. Back in July, the county commissioners disbanded the county’s IT department, and later agreed to contract IT services out to DeGroot Technology. Now, DeGroot has notified officials that it will stop providing services to the county in January.
Continue readingStarke County Election Board Reviews 2020 Budget
While Starke County hasn’t finalized a switch to vote centers yet, there isn’t enough money in the 2020 budget to hold a presidential election using precinct polling places.
Continue readingEastern Pulaski School Board Adopts 2020 Budget
The Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation’s 2020 budget was adopted by the school board Thursday.
Continue readingEnrollment Decline Continues at Oregon-Davis
Declining enrollment continues to be a concern at the Oregon-Davis School Corporation.
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