At the request of Knox Board of Public Works members, the owner of a distressed property at 6 North Pearl Street presented a project update at their meeting last Wednesday.
She informed the members that the work that was once been stalled is back on track and that the contractor is now on site. However, she added that he began work a week behind the scheduled start date, so they’re in the process of playing “catch-up” at the moment. Continue reading
Fire truck bids will be opened during this morning’s Knox Board of Public Works meeting.
In addition to receiving updates about a property at 6 North Pearl Street and two properties on Main Street, members will also consider a request for reserve officers. The superintendent’s report will be delivered and any additional business deemed necessary by the board will be discussed. Continue reading
Paperwork will begin on the legal process on unsafe properties identified in the Parkview Heights area in Knox and in the downtown area.
About 200 chairs at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox will be sold.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston told the Knox Board of Public Works members this week that new chairs are coming as part of the renovation project.
Knox Water Superintendent Todd Gardner announced his resignation at the Knox Board of Public Works meeting on Wednesday morning.
The Knox Board of Public Works will meet today where they will receive updates on renovation efforts at 6 N. Pearl Street and 1 and 3 N. Main Street. The owners of the properties have certain timelines to meet so fines aren’t imposed. The structures have been deemed unsafe and need rehabilitation.
Some confusion over bid specifications led to drastically different offers being opened at the Knox Board of Works meeting on Monday.
The bids were for demolition work on the blighted structure at 202 N. Pearl Street.
The first bid that was opened came in from Jackson Truck and Excavating and it was for $33,900. The second bid was from Mark Milo Enterprises for $14,900. The reason for the difference was that Jackson included the price for asbestos removal, while Milo did not. Continue reading
Knox Board of Works members approved a recommendation from Police Chief Harold Smith during a special meeting Monday morning.
Chief Smith’s recommendation pertained to hiring Seth Johnson as a patrolman for the police department. He explained that out the 30 applications that were issued, 9 were returned. Out of the 9 that came back, the list was narrowed down to 4 finalists. However, none of the final 4 passed background checks.
Since none of the applicants were suitable, Chief Smith suggested adding former Starke County Sheriff’s Department officer Seth Johnson to the force. Continue reading
Knox Board of Public Works members will be opening bids during a special meeting today at 9 a.m.
The bids are for demolition work on the blighted structure at 202 N Pearl Street. At the last city council meeting, Mayor Dennis Estok mentioned that the house on Pearl Street will be the 13th disheveled structure taken care of through Bligh Elimination Program. Continue reading
Knox Water Superintendent Todd Gardner is looking into replacing some older meters that better meet the need of the building’s user.
Gardner told the Knox Board of Public Works members last week that the revenue loss is quite steep.
A Knox City Police car is in the shop to get auto body repair after a small accident.
Knox City Police Chief Harold Smith told the Knox Board of Public Works last week that an officer parked the 2011 Dodge Charger in front of a business on Main Street and a business owner backed into the squad car. Smith said the estimated damage is at $1,550 and it will be repaired.
The Knox Street Department has gone through a lot of its salt supply to help clear roads this winter.
According Street Superintendent Jeff Borg, the city has experienced 12 snow events that have amounted to 26 inches of snow. That statistic is from Dec. 9, 2017 to today. As a result, 70 tons of the 100 tons of road salt was used to help clear roads as contracted from the State of Indiana cooperative. The city can purchase up to 120 tons as part of the agreement.
Another unsafe structure the Knox Board of Public Works would like to see progress on is at 6 N. Pearl Street.
The owner, Lucia Valladares, has gotten some work done, but the renovation effort has stalled. Knox Planning Administrator and Director of Building and Code Compliance Kenny Pfost told the board members Wednesday morning that she has a family member in California suffering from medical issues and she has been there. A lot of her funds are now going to help her family member. She will be able to do what she can.
The Knox Board of Public Works members received an update on the progress of repairs at 1 and 3 N. Main Street in downtown Knox.
According to Knox Planning Administrator and Director of Building and Code Compliance Kenny Pfost, the building’s owner has replaced the glass on the ground floor of the two-story building and installed insulation and OSB boards around the windows and above the front door. Pfost says owner Pete Milev plans to put some finished material over the OSB, but he’s not sure what material may be installed.
The Knox Board of Public Works members reviewed revisions to the employee handbook when they met Wednesday morning.
The Knox Board of Public Works will meet this morning where the board members will get an update on two unsafe properties.
The owner of 1 and 3 N. Main Street, Pete Milev, is anticipated to give the board an update on repairs needed to that downtown building. Knox Planning Administrator and Director of Building and Code Compliance Kenny Pfost told the board members last month that a timeline was provided for repairs. Milev was given until May 2018 to complete extensive repairs to the exterior masonry and interior violations. There are smaller improvements that should have been done by Jan. 12.
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
Knox Water Department crews are improving fire protection in city limits.
Water Superintendent Todd Gardner told the Knox Board of Public Works members last week that the fire hydrant fees collected helped pay for the installation of 26 new fire hydrants and updated several others to provide adequate fire protection in neighborhoods. Continue reading
Knox City Police Chief Harold Smith is looking to hire a new full-time officer for the department.
Officer Chad Dulin reported to the Knox Board of Public Works on Wednesday that Detective Dave Combs submitted his resignation in November after serving 11 years with the department. He served the Starke County Sheriff’s Department for several years as well. He is now the Town Marshal for the Town of Medaryville.
The Knox City Street Department will be extending leaf pickup next week.
Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Knox Board of Public Works on Wednesday that leaves have fallen but they’re waiting for residents to have the time to rake them and place them along the front of properties along the street.
