Starke County has a new information technology director. The county commissioners Monday hired Brian Pinson for the position. He replaces Joe Short, who recently resigned to take a job in South Bend. Continue reading
Starke County EMS Looking at New Billing Software
Starke County EMS needs new billing software to replace an obsolete program. However, the software package the state recommends costs quite a bit of money to purchase and maintain. Continue reading
Recount Commission Members to Meet Today
The three-member recount commission appointed last week by Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall to review the votes cast in two recent General Election contests will meet this morning at the courthouse. They’re looking into the outcome of the fourth district county council race between Democrat Pam Stalbaum and Republican Don White. The Republican Party filed a recount petition on White’s behalf after Stalbaum eked out a two-vote victory in the race to succeed Democrat Marvin McLaughlin. Incumbent Railroad Township Trustee Roger Chaffins, Sr. also filed a petition for a recount after losing to Republican Mandy Thompson by three votes. Continue reading
Judge Appoints Recount Commission Members
Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall has appointed a three-member recount commission to review the votes cast in two recent General Election contests. A petition seeking a recount was filed in the fourth district council race on behalf of Republican Don White, who lost to Democrat Pamela Stalbaum by two votes in the race to succeed Marvin McLaughlin. Incumbent Railroad Township Trustee Roger Chaffins, Sr. also filed a petition for a recount after losing to Republican Mandy Thompson by three votes. Continue reading
Starke Commissioners Discuss Fringe Benefit Tax Regarding County Vehicles
Starke Commissioners Approve Relocation of Koontz Lake Radio Antenna
To that end, Bombagetti explained to them the process to declare a local communication emergency, which would give the county the authority to do what needs to be done to restore full radio communications while getting the FCC licensing caught up at a later time. County Attorney Martin Lucas reviewed the information and gave it his approval.
Starke Commissioners Approve New County Email Server
The Starke County Commissioners this week received an update on county radio tower repairs from IT Director Joe Short, who explained that the county’s insurance claim of $13,165.84 for damages from the storms in June and July has not yet been paid. He said they’ve already performed repairs on antennas near Washington Township, Bass Lake, and Koontz Lake, but a vendor was unable to perform repairs on a unit in San Pierre. Short said that unit was ultimately replaced.
Starke Co. Sheriff’s Dept. Radio Tower Repair Project Hits a Snag
It’s been a couple months since a number of vicious storms tore through the area, causing massive amounts of damage and toppling several tall towers.
According to Starke County IT Director Joe Short, repairing the damage that was done to the Sheriff’s Department’s radio tower is currently one of their top priorities, but they’re running into some complications. Short explained that the city of Knox has a restriction on the maximum height of a tower in a residential area, limiting the tower to a height of 100 feet.
Starke Co. Sheriff’s Department’s Tower Irreparable – Must Be Replaced
The Starke County Commissioners this week heard from IT Director Joe Short, who gave them a bit of bad news. The Sheriff’s Department’s radio tower was damaged by last month’s storms, and Short told the commissioners that no tower companies will make repairs to the tower. Once it’s damaged, Short says, the entire tower must be replaced.
This is a huge undertaking, as the tower would have to not only be completely rebuilt, but it would also have to be expanded. When the tower was originally built, regulations weren’t quite so strict, but now regulations require heavier-duty towers. The base would have to be expanded from its previous five-foot base to a 16-foot base. Short says they’ve received a few proposals and they’re still waiting to learn how much of the expense will be covered by insurance.
Local Firefighters Earn Multiple Certifications
Area firefighters recently completed a new recruit course.
Captain Joe Short from the Washington Township Fire Department said the course started in November and finished April 22. Firefighters met three days a week for a combination of lectures and hands-on activities. Those who completed the training received certifications in National Incident Management System (NIMS) 100, NIMS 200, NIMS 700, Autism, HAZMAT Awareness, HAZMAT Operations, Mandatory Firefighter, Firefighter I and Firefighter II. The courses were taught by Washington Township, Hamlet and Bremen Fire Officials and Starke County EMS Director Paul Mathewson.
Temperatures Soar in Starke County Jail Equipment Room
The beleaguered Starke County Jail has developed more problems recently: I.T. Director Joe Short said the equipment room temperature soared into the sauna range.
“Basically what happened is, the equipment room air conditioner quit working, and it was exceeding 100 degrees in the equipment room. We got McGrath’s out and put the unit in working condition but still its not maintaining anything below 76, 78 degrees. I’d personally like to see it below 70, preferably around 60-65,” said Short.
The problems began after another problem was corrected.
“The rooftop units quit working in the jail for heating, so there was no heat going into the equipment room. Well, now they have the new rooftop units in there and all the duct-work for heating that building goes through the ceiling above that equipment room. In conjunction with that, and air conditioning was running all summer, now that air conditioner is not able to keep up,” Short said.
So what problems are created when the room temperature goes into the stratosphere?
“When we started cracking that 100-degree mark, all the radio equipment for 911, servers, everything is in there. We’re down to 76, 78 but I’d like to see it get a little bit better than that,” said Short.
The plan now is to move another air conditioner to the room to give more capacity for lowering the temperature into the 60-65 degree range. But Short concedes if the main air conditioner dies “we’re in trouble.”
Commissioner Kathy Norem said, “If it dies that would be an emergency, and we would have to address it then.” If you’re experiencing this too, have your air conditioner checked and maintained by Minneapolis air duct cleaning company.
Joe Short New Starke County I.T. Director
A 1998 graduate of Knox Community High School is the new Starke County I.T. Director. Joe Short was recommended to the Commissioners by a committee assembled to select a successor to Bob Smith.
