A community effort to honor Starke County’s veterans is now “in the final stretch.” Kathy Norem is a member of the Starke County Veterans Memorial project committee. She told WKVI’s Charlie Adams last week that the stones had been set, the flagpoles had been raised, the sidewalk was being poured, and the commemorative pavers were being installed.
Continue readingThe new Starke County Veterans Memorial is still on track to be ready for Veterans Day, despite some delays. County commissioner and project committee member Kathy Norem told the Starke County Park Board Tuesday that the concrete should be done by October 1, a month later than originally hoped.
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The construction of the Starke County Veterans War Memorial Plaza remains on schedule.
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Several preliminary steps for the new Starke County Veteran’s Memorial were approved by the county park board Tuesday. The memorial will be placed on the southeast corner of the courthouse square. It will include the names of those killed in action in wars and conflicts dating back to the Civil War, etched in a black granite stone.
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Jeff Berg and JJ Weinberg presented the first view of plans for an improved Veteran’s War Memorial proposed at the southwest corner of the Starke County Courthouse to the Starke County Council and Commissioners Monday night.
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The President Pro Tempore for the Knox City Council was selected Tuesday evening.
As a reminder, a “president pro tempore” serves as the representative for the council members and that individual would run the meeting if Mayor Estok is ever absent.
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Time is running out to apply for the open seat on the Knox City Council. Individuals who reside in District 4 and are registered Democrats have until Friday to submit their letter of interest for consideration. Any letters that come in after the deadline will not be eligible
Letters must be delivered to Starke County Democrat Chairman Kenny Wallace. They can be sent by mail to his Knox residence located at 5175 East 200 South. Continue reading
When Knox City Council members met last month, they decided to move forward with purchasing a new digital message board, after first discussing the matter back in March.
Initially, when the topic was presented by Mayor Dennis Estok, he said that the double-sided message board he found would be 4 foot by 8 foot and would cost around $35,000.
He explained that placing a sign at the city’s entrance could help promote various community events and share other important announcements with citizens as well as motorists passing through. Continue reading
In order to discuss the employee handbook, Knox City Council members held a joint work session with a member of the Board of Public Works last night.
Steve Dodge served as the representative for the BOW. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explained that the firm HR Unlimited was hired to help revise the current employee handbook.
Houston said a new handbook was needed not only due to changes to state requirements but also because multiple versions of the handbook were floating around. He said over the years, people have amended it for various departmental needs but city officials felt it was time to have a standard for everyone to go by. Continue reading
Knox City Council members re-organized and addressed appointments when they met for the first time this year.
On Tuesday night, Councilwoman Bertha Blue nominated Ron Parker for the position of President Pro Temp and former council president. Parker’s nomination was unanimously approved. A “president pro tempore” serves as the representative for the council members and they would run the meeting if the mayor is ever absent. Continue reading
The Knox Plan Commission met last night to hold a public hearing and discussion over a subdivision of property for the purpose of developing a Dollar General Store in the area at the request of Mark Matthew.
The commissioners ultimately approved the subdivision but prior to and following the decision, the meeting continuously erupted into conversations over site planning and safety concerns, resulting in one commissioner submitting verbal resignation and leaving the meeting prior to adjournment.
Commission president Jeff Berg began by running over the purpose and protocol of the meeting and hearing, saying that Mr. Matthew was seeking permission to divide a lot at the corner of U.S 35 and County Road 200 S. Planning Administrator Kenny Pfost added that a notification of the hearing was publicized and all neighbors within a 500 foot radius of the project were sent letters about the plans. Continue reading
The Knox Plan Commission has an opening for a ninth member.
The Knox Plan Commission wants to make sure sheds and garages are being permitted properly.
A longtime law enforcement officer will soon be in charge of code enforcement for the City of Knox. Kenny Pfost has been appointed as the city’s director of building and code compliance by Mayor Dennis Estok. Pfost will also serve as planning administrator, following action by the Knox Plan Commission Tuesday.
![Dennis Estok [right] takes oath of office](https://wkvi.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151230_1742471-e1451544938902-300x247.jpg)
New and returning City of Knox elected officials will be sworn in this evening. Members of the public are invited to the 5:30 p.m. ceremony at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center. Continue reading
The Knox City Council held more discussion on the 2015 salary ordinance during their meeting this week.
Councilman Don Kring had concerns about the budget and making cuts to the budget. He expressed that he wants to see a raise for the employees but he would hate to see things in the budget that would have to be cut because of the raise.
Two members of the Knox City Council agreed to be on a committee to discuss the proposed acquisition of the Gateway property.
Discussions were held previously to enter into an agreement to transfer title of land and improvements of the Gateway property to the city of Knox. The property includes the depot, the watchman’s tower, the Nickel Plate signal tower and tracks. The depot is home to the Starke County Visitor’s Center and Starke County Chamber of Commerce. A house on West Water Street would also be part of the agreement.
The Knox City Council this week approved a motion to join the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission in applying for a Brownfield grant. KIRPC requested the city join them in applying at no cost to the city, and with no effect on the city’s grant pool.
The Knox City Council this week discussed building permit fees after a resident left paperwork with Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explaining he felt he was overcharged when he bought a permit to add an addition to a pole barn. The resident explained he was issued a building permit for a 24-foot-by-40-foot addition to an existing pole barn and was charged $192, though he thought the accessory building permit should have only been $75.
