Knox City Council Approves Grant Administrator Agreement with KIRPC

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox City Council members considered a grant administrator agreement with Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission on Tuesday night. KIRPC representative Shawn Cain told the council that the agreement would be to assist the city with the OCRA grant they recently received for the Knox Parks 5-Year Master Plan.

Cain said the agreement would allow KIRPC reps to assist the clerk-treasurer with reports and claims and they’d also be available to answer any questions that the council members may have in the future. Cain added that there is a $2,000 charge for their services. Continue reading →

Knox City Council and Board of Public Works to Hold Join Work Session Tonight

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The Knox City Council and the Board of Public Works will hold a joint work session to discuss the employee handbook tonight. It will be held at 6 p.m., prior to their regular session.

The regular session will commence at 7 p.m. where the approval of the new employee handbook will be up for consideration.

Additionally, members will consider a KIRPC Grant Administration Agreement and John Julien with Umbaugh will be discussing bonding for a fire truck. Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Review Proposal for Elevator Project

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Starke County Commissioners reviewed paperwork Monday night pertaining to the construction of a new elevator at the Starke County Courthouse.

KIRPC Representative Shawn Cain presented forms that the commissioners reviewed that indicate that KIRPC is the grant administrator for the $500,000 grant received for the project. The project cost is approximately $550,560 with $35,000 in fees for KIRPC. The project is expected to be bid out in May. KIRPC is expected to oversee all financial aspects of the project and make sure all laws are followed concerning wages and reporting.

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North Judson Town Council Members Address Appointments at Year-End Meeting

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

North Judson Town Council members appointed Councilman James Young as the council representative of the Starke County Economic Development Board, at their meeting Tuesday night.

Town Council president Wendy Hoppe also asked if any members were willing to volunteer as the representative for KIRPC or the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission. Councilwoman Jane Ellen Felchuck added that they could nominate a citizen, if no members are interested in filling the position. Since Councilman John Rowe wasn’t present during last night’s meeting, they decided to table that appointment until their meeting on January 2nd. Continue reading →

Francesville to Hold Hearing for Wastewater Study

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The town of Francesville is nearing the completion of their wastewater project and has scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. ET at the Francesville Town Hall to provide interested citizens an opportunity to express their views on the recently completed Wastewater Study.

Emily Gross, community development planner with the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission, said the Wastewater Study was paid for using Federal Community Development Block Grant Funds from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

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North Judson to Develop Strategic Plan

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The town of North Judson may soon have a document to help guide its development for years to come, as Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry told WKVI that the town is working on its strategic plan.

While there have been no specific details released yet about the upcoming plan development, Henry said the town is getting information from the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission and it’s likely that officials will work with KIRPC to develop the document. However, nothing has been finalized.

Henry also noted that utility crews started Monday on the first fall leaf pickup for the community, and they will continue with that this week until they’ve made their rounds of the town. Henry said the town will likely have another round of leaf pickups after the leaves have finished falling.

More Than $20,000 Approved For Knox Housing Improvement Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council at their meeting this week approved the city’s match for the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission’s housing improvement project grant. The match for the grant is roughly 10 percent of the $200,000 total, coming out to $22,500 that the city must provide to improve housing for the 12 eligible households that have applied.

A motion was made and approved for their 10 percent share, and a motion was also made and approved to accept the 12 applicants into the housing improvement project.

The council also discussed their appointment to the Knox Planning Commission. This nine-member board consists of two appointments by the county commissioners, four citizens appointed by the mayor, and three appointments from the city council. The three appointments from the council need to be either city officials or employees, and Mayor Rick Chambers said he will go through their list of employees and see if anyone is interested in the position.

North Judson Town Board Passes Two Resolutions

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board

The North Judson Town Board passed two resolutions at its meeting this week. The first resolution concerned modifications to the grant received by the board from the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission for the State Road 39 project. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says she received an email from a KIRPC representative who informed her that the board needed to pass a resolution concerning modifications to the grant.

The board also passed a resolution concerning the town’s anti-nepotism policy, which Henry says is included in the handbook, but a revision was required. She says although their current policy is more stringent than the state-mandated policy, the state requires that the policy address step-relatives. The handbook was revised to include the required content.

A surveyor gave the board an estimate on the cost to plot, measure, and place markers in the Highland Cemetery’s 13th section, which was never properly surveyed. She says the estimate came in at $2200, but it is a very rough estimate and will likely change. The board voted to go ahead with the plotting.

CADA Grant Contract Approved For Phoenix House

Posted on Author WKVI
Back Row: Greg Matt, Mayor Rick Chambers, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Donald Kring, City Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

The Knox City Council gave Mayor Rick Chambers the authority to sign the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse grant contract last week. The Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant was for $424,000, with a 10 percent match from CADA, making the total $471,000. The money is to be used to extend the garage at the Phoenix House, an abuse shelter in Knox.

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KIRPC Housing Grant Construction to Start Before Fall

Posted on Author WKVI

Shawn Cain of the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission held a public hearing last week in connection with a housing grant. Cain is the administrator for the grant, and she explained to those assembled at City Hall the details.

“The grant is going to help seniors make repairs on their homes. It’s to help give the selected homeowners an opportunity to age in place, to stay in their home and live independently.” said Cain.

Cain said that she has already met with several applicants, and will next be doing income verification. She next talked about the bidding process for the grant.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Waive Building Fees for KIRPC Housing Improvement Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

A warmer winter than usual is in the works for eight low-income homeowners in Pulaski County, thanks to a grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. Shawn Cain from the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission appeared before the county commissioners to request they approve a waiver of building fees for these eight homes that have been selected to receive much-needed improvements at no cost to the owners.

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Winamac Town Council Approves Grant for Residential Renovations

Posted on Author WKVI

Eight homes in Winamac will be undergoing some much-needed renovations, thanks to a grant approved by the Winamac Town Council this week. Shawn Cain from KIRPC approached the Council with a request to approve a bid to perform various work in these houses, including installation of energy-efficient windows, heating systems, insulation, and some electrical work and plumbing as well. Visit sites like homeserviceheroesfl.com/residential-plumbing/tampa-fl/ for additional plumbing guidance. Most of these homes need several different improvements, and the houses with the most pressing needs will be given the highest priority. The town is expected to provide a 10% match for the grant.

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