The Pulaski County Commissioners are moving ahead with a fiscal plan. They voted two-to-one Monday to hire Peters Municipal Consultants to put the plan together, with Jerry Locke voting in opposition. Of the two proposals the county received, Peters’ was apparently cheaper, with a maximum cost of $24,000, compared to Umbaugh and Associates’ cap of $35,000.
Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn will be allowed to keep his county-issued email address and cell phone number once he retires at the end of the year. The county commissioners approved the arrangement Monday, on the condition that Shurn cover all the associated costs in the future. Commissioner Kenny Becker said the county’s IT director will have to work on separating Shurn’s phone and email from the county’s billing.
The Pulaski County Commissioners have decided not to put more money into an ambulance that’s set to be replaced next year. EMS Director Bryan Corn told the commissioners Monday that the department’s oldest ambulance, a 2008 Ford which has had numerous problems over the years, is once again out of service.
The Pulaski County Highway Department is looking into partnering with WorkOne to get some free labor. As part of a job training program, participants would have the chance to learn skills by working with the Highway Department for a certain period of time, while WorkOne would pay their wages and assume any liability. Similar partnerships have already been put in place with the county’s Maintenance Department, as well as the Starke County Highway Department.
The Pulaski County Commissioners have decided to check and see if the county is eligible for fuel tax reimbursements. Last week, the commissioners conditionally agreed to hire consulting firm Malcon to help with the process.
Pulaski County will not be charging its residents a wheel tax in the near future. The issue was discussed during last week’s joint county council and commissioners meeting, after the Bureau of Motor Vehicles asked for an update.
Work continues to turn the former Winamac Masonic Lodge into a county morgue and office building. Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston told the Pulaski County Commissioners Monday that his department has completed quite a bit of work, but there’s still a lot more to go.
