Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler has an employment contract through March of 2017 after action last night by the county commissioners. They agreed to offer him a two-year, three-month contract to allow for a transition to the next administration. Continue reading
A philosophical disconnect between the Starke County Commissioners may keep them from offering county highway superintendent Rik Ritzler a long-term employment contract. His is one of the jobs appointed each year by the commissioners. President of the Commissioners Jennifer Davis would like to change that.
“This is to our advantage to have a contract with our current highway superintendent, because of the job that he has demonstrated that he has done. I hope that we will be able to consider that at our next meeting,” Davis said during the Monday, Nov. 3 Starke County Commissioners meeting.
That will require a unanimous vote. Commissioner Kathy Norem supports the notion, but Commissioner Kent Danford does not. Continue reading
Two members of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation Board of Directors were named finalists for the 2014 Influential Women of Northwest Indiana recognition award. Carla Musial and Kathy Norem both were nominated by the Foundation for their work in Starke County. Musial was one of five finalists for Influential Woman in the Finance category, while Norem was one of three finalists for Up and Coming Woman in Government.
Starke County now has a parks and recreation board. The Starke County Council established the body to oversee amenities like the Bass Lake Beach and Campground, Starke County Forest and other county-owned recreational areas. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners will have some pointed questions for Bass Lake Beach and Campground Manager Richard Callahan and his attorney, David Wallsmith, when they meet tonight. They attend the evening meetings each month and give a management report. During the July 7 commissioners meeting, several residents complained about the conditions at the beach and campground over the Independence Day weekend. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners have proclaimed May 4-10 Correctional Employees Week.
Todd Willis chairs the Starke County Community Corrections Board of Directors. He says keeping the community safe is just part of what the agency does.
The Starke County Council and Commissioners are looking for local residents who want to serve as appointees on various boards and commissions in 2014.
“The board of commissioners and the county council reorganize, and part of that reorganization includes appointments to various boards. We do try to advertise those. We do try to solicit extra folks out in the community to participate on these boards. We’re looking for good, qualified people,” Norem said.
Norem said the county mostly receives funds from property taxes, and that stream of revenue has not been interrupted.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler has some flexibility to purchase fuel from local vendors if the price is right.
Ken Wagner from the Starke County Co-Op pointedly asked the county commissioners what it will take for him to successfully bid to offer the county fuel. He notes that his last bid was within 1/10th of a cent of Winamac-based Good Oil’s cost, yet the county bought the fuel from them. That came out to a total savings of $9.
Starke County is on the hunt for a new highway superintendent, after the commissioners this week decided it was “time to make a change,” according to Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem. Steve Siddall had held the position of highway superintendent for the last four years, but the commissioners decided it was time to switch it up in the best interest for the county.
On Monday, the Starke County Commissioners will discuss board appointments for 2013, but they’ve run into a bit of a snag. Commissioner Kathy Norem said that it appears they are short a few applicants on several boards, including the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission Board.
Three Republican officials elected to office in Starke County were sworn into office Monday by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall.
Kathy Norem was sworn in once again to the seat of county commissioner, alongside Kent Danford, who has also performed the role of county commissioner in the past. Danford said he’s looking forward to being back on the board of commissioners, and one of the big issues he plans to address involves keeping roads safe and open for travel.
Three Starke County Republicans will be sworn into office today by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall.
Kathy Norem and Kent Danford will take the oath of office of Starke County Commissioner and Bryan Cavender will be sworn in as a Starke County Councilman.
The ceremony will take place in the Starke Circuit Courtroom on the third floor of the courthouse at 3 p.m. CT.
It may be a hand-me-down, but the Starke County Health Department doesn’t care; they’ll soon be putting to use an old Jeep from Community Corrections to allow the sanitarian to use it for business travels.
Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem explained the Health Department has been looking around for a vehicle to be used by the sanitarian, but they haven’t had much luck; that is, until now, when Community Corrections acquired some new vehicles with their own funds and offered to give their old Jeep to the Health Department.
