Only six houses are left that need to hook up to the new water lines in the Brown Circle project in Knox.
Water Superintendent Todd Gardner told the Knox Board of Public Works on Wednesday that everything should be done by the end of October. He said that firm costs will be presented at the next meeting on Oct. 25.
The Knox City Council will assemble in City Hall this evening at 7 p.m. Council members will act on the second and final reading of the 2018 Salary Ordinance as well as the adoption of the 2018 Budget. They will also revisit the 2018 Fire Protection Agreement between the City of Knox and Center Township and Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Departments. Continue reading
The City of Knox is once again hosting a holiday decorating contest for residents. Continue reading
The City of Knox will continue leaf pickup into December as weather allows, and has announced a schedule for the remaining passes.
Leaves will be picked up in Precinct 1 on Mondays, Precinct 2 on Tuesdays, Precinct 3 on Wednesdays and Precinct 4 on Thursdays. Friday will be a catch-up day as time allows. Continue reading
The City of Knox is celebrating the recent completion of a couple of roadway extensions. County Road 150 South is now a through street from South Heaton Street near Sandy Acres Park past the Knox bus barn to Roosevelt Road. Continue reading
The City of Knox hopes to have two surplus vehicles listed for sale next week. They’re selling a 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe and a 1991 International model 4700 dump truck. Continue reading
The City of Knox is once again offering business and homeowners a chance to take part in the 50/50 sidewalk replacement program. The mayor’s office will accept requests on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds are exhausted. Continue reading
A historical marker now stands on the site of one of downtown Knox’s first commercial structures. The Koffel Building at the corner of Main and Lake Streets was completed in 1891, a year before the city’s streets were paved with brick, four years before municipal electrical service was offered and 17 years before city water was available. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver says drug stores were a vital part of a booming business district.
“Always in the drugstore the fountain was a big thing. From the very beginning there were tables where it was appropriate for the ladies to come in to have coffee, tea or a soft drink or whatever from the fountain. That became quite a social center in the day.” Continue reading
The City of Knox has another set of town-wide yard sales scheduled for September 19th and 20th. Anyone within city limits or on the outskirts is permitted to participate. There are also spots open for vendors. A free map will be available in the parking lot of the Moose Lodge on the specified dates in September. Continue reading
In just a few short months, America will be celebrating another birthday. The City of Knox is hoping to offset costs of a local celebration with several fundraisers.
A port-a-pit chicken sale is set during the city-wide yard sale in May. This fundraiser will be May 16 at the Knox South Side Fire Station. Volunteers will sell half chicken orders for $7.00 plus pit-tatoes for $3.00 from 10 a.m. until sold out. All proceeds will benefit the county-wide fireworks celebration on Friday, July 3.
Tickets for this event can be purchased at Knox City Hall.
Knox residents who plan to vote at the polling site in the Primary Municipal Election are invited to test the voting machines on Wednesday, April 15 at 10 a.m. CT in the second-floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse.
Clerk Vicki Cooley reminds City of Knox voters that registered voters in District 1, District 2, District 3 and District 4 may cast a ballot in the Primary Municipal Election. Voters will be at the polls on Tuesday, May 5. This year’s polling site for all districts is the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox.
The City of Knox will once again be hosting the National Day of Prayer Breakfast.
The annual gathering at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center will bring churches, organizations, and businesses together on May 7th. The breakfast and national celebration is typically used as a day to reflect on the direction of the United States. This will be the 64th year the National Day of Prayer will be celebrated.
Continue reading
A garbage truck caused a major power outage in the City of Knox this morning.
Mayor Rick Chambers said the garbage truck was pulling out of the city parking lot when it caught a power line and snapped the pole in two.
“I just talked with the NIPSCO guys and they’re pretty much going to be all day to get this repaired. It did a lot of damage,” said Mayor Chambers.
The deadline to apply for the 50/50 sidewalk program in Knox is in one month.
The program allows the cost of sidewalk replacement to be split between the homeowner and the City of Knox. The idea is to make areas safer in Knox and to allow better access for those who rely on wheelchairs in order to be mobile.
The city-wide yard sale in Knox will be four days this year.
The event, sponsored by the Knox Moose Family Center, will be Thursday, May 14 through Sunday, May 17 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT daily. The permit fee will be waived during this time. The only signs allowed to be posted advertising yard sales may be purchased at Knox City Hall for a small fee.
Those who live outside the two-mile jurisdiction may participate. Space for those residents will be available at the Moose’s parking lot in downtown Knox.
Breakfast and lunch will be offered at the facility. A map of the yard sales will be available at the Knox Moose Family Center beginning at 7 a.m. CT each day of the sale. To reserve your spot on the free map or for more information, call Danna at 772-2098.
Knox officials are looking toward spring. They encourage contractors interested in participating in the city’s Residential/Business Sidewalk Replacement Program to register with the city.
Contractors need to go to the Knox Planning Commission office at 101 West Washington Street between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday until April 10. Proof of insurance must be provided.
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers and the Knox City Council members want the citizens of Knox decide when to hold the fireworks celebration in July.
The council members held discussion last week on a date to hold the fireworks. The Fourth of July is on a Saturday this year which would be the ideal date to hold the celebration, but the council doesn’t want to interfere with family plans residents may have for the day. However, it is the official holiday and the council members thought it would be appropriate to hold the display on the Fourth of July.
The City of Knox will be picking up live Christmas trees on their regular Thursday brush pick-up day, starting tomorrow. Be sure to remove ornaments, lights and tinsel from the tree before placing it at the curb where brush would normally be placed in the summer months. Trees can also be taken to the compost pile located behind city hall. Trash contractors will not pick up natural Christmas trees.
If you would like to celebrate the new year by discharging consumer fireworks, you may do so today beginning at 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. tomorrow morning.
Keep in mind that no person may use, ignite or discharge consumer fireworks on any public street or in any public park within the corporate limits of the City of Knox at any time. According to the ordinance, if the use of discharging consumer fireworks results in a fire and damage is determined to be caused by “negligence or the willful disregard or violation of any of the provisions”, that person will be fined an amount not to exceed $2,500 for the dispatch of firefighters and equipment.
Umbaugh and Associates will be working on refinancing the water bonds after the first of the year.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston informed the Knox City Council members that John Julian said the markets should be better after the new year starts to ensure the city gets the best rate possible. Julian approached the council earlier this month to move forward with the process. The city has $1.5 million outstanding on bonds from 1988 and from 2006. Julian suggested that refinancing now could save the city up to $10,000 a year throughout the remainder of the life of the bond.
The council previously approved an ordinance to jump start the movement on the refinancing action. Houston said he should know more about the bond refinancing during the council’s second meeting in January.
