Knox Board of Public Works Receives Update on Property

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The members of the Knox Board of Public Works received an update on the rehabilitation of the property at 6 N. Pearl Street.

Knox Director of Building, Planning and Code Compliance Kenny Pfost said the owner, Lucia Valladares, was in a car accident and has not been able to complete any work. Pfost reported that she is looking for a vehicle capable of towing a trailer in order to aid her work on the dilapidated structure.

Renovation plans were previously approved by the board. Pfost said an engineer’s report on the foundation found that only a few repairs need to be made in order to move forward with work. Continue reading →

Knox Board of Public Works to Meet Today

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Knox Board of Public Works will receive an update on the progress of 6 N. Pearl Street when they meet this morning.

The property was set for demolition, but Lucia Valladares purchased it in a tax sale and provided the board of works with plans for extensive renovations at a previous meeting. The members approved her plans, pending a positive report from the structural engineer concerning the building’s foundation.

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Bid Accepted for Knox Sidewalk Program

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Board of Public Works opened two bids for the 50/50 sidewalk program.

The members unanimously accepted the lowest bid from Pete Kuchel in the amount of $14,691. All of the bidding information will be reviewed by Street Superintendent Jeff Borg and City Attorney David Matsey to ensure it conforms to specifications.

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Towing Agreement Update Given to Knox Board of Public Works Members

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Board of Public Works again reviewed the towing agreement when they recently met. The members approved the agreement in March and the city council gave Mayor Rick Chambers permission to sign the document with participating towing companies.

Three companies have now signed the agreement. The companies are not in city limits, but representatives can arrive at the scene of an accident within 20 minutes. As part of the agreement, the companies will be used on rotational basis when called upon by the Knox City Police Department. One company would not supply certain documentation as required and won’t be on the list.

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Knox Board of Public Works Approves Loan of K9 Kennel

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Sheriff’s Office will have a vehicle kennel for another K9 when the time comes to purchase another dog.

The Knox Board of Public Works agreed to loan the city-owned kennel to the county to help reduce the county’s costs toward another K9 unit. Mayor Rick Chambers explained that the Knox City Police Department no longer has a K9 unit and had the kennel in storage. Sheriff Bill Dulin requested the use of the kennel and the request was granted Wednesday morning.

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Knox Board of Public Works to Meet Today

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Board of Public Works will talk more about the towing agreement when they meet this morning.

The board recently approved an amended agreement and two towing companies have signed the agreement already. The Knox City Council approved a resolution last week to authorize Mayor Rick Chambers to sign the document and to enter into agreements. The towing companies that sign the towing agreement will be used on a rotational basis. If the company is contacted and a representative does not answer, the next company on the list will be utilized.  The agreement will be reviewed again by the board this morning.

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Knox Water Department Reports Minimal Frozen Water Lines This Season

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Water Department had a mild winter this year compared to last season.

Superintendent Todd Gardner informed the Knox Board of Public Works members this week that there weren’t too many calls about frozen water pipes. There was one call, but Gardner said the line from the resident’s home to the city hookup is the issue. If the issue were to be repaired, it would be the homeowner’s responsibility to take care of the problem.

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Knox Board of Works Approves New Towing Agreement

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Board of Public Works reviewed a new towing agreement for four companies currently being utilized for service in the case of a car accident. Those companies include Buzz’s Towing, Howard and Sons Towing, Hauser’s Towing and Wagner’s Towing.

The agreement states that if the service is needed within the City of Knox contractors will be called on a rotating basis. The Knox City Police Department or the Starke County Sheriff’s Department would be working directly with the companies to request service. If the contractor does not answer the phone, the next company on the list will be called. It will be considered a rotational call and will not be made up.

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Knox Board of Public Works to Meet Today

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Board of Public Works will be discussing a towing agreement when they meet this morning.

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers has been working with City Attorney David Matsey about putting together a new agreement for towing companies when police need to remove vehicles from an accident scene. Mayor Chambers noted that the agreement is outdated. Towing companies are usually dispatched to a scene on a rotation, and that will be determined in a document to be reviewed today.

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Knox Water Department Dealing with Frozen Water Meters

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Water Department has been dealing with frozen water meters this winter, although the number of meters changed has not reached last year’s totals.

Superintendent Todd Gardner told the Board of Public Works this week that freeze plates break when temperatures are cold, and Gardner stocked up after last year’s cold winter. He said crews typically will repair 15 to 20 freeze plates, but last year the number shot up to 120.

“They’re plastic. They’re meant to break so they don’t break the brass meters. We take them apart and clean them up and put them back together,” said Gardner.

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Knox Street Department Ready for Next Snow Event

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Knox Board of Public Works this week that operations in the city are going well this winter.

There has been some cost savings in getting sand from Area Excavating. The cost is two dollars cheaper than their previous supplier. They don’t have to go as far to pick up the material. Borg said he has been able to see a difference in the cost and wear and tear of vehicles. He coordinates a pick up time with the company and brings back up to ten tons of sand as needed. Borg said the sand is mixed with salt, and the combination works well during a snow event. Porter County and LaPorte County department use the same company for their road product as well.

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Storm Water Plans Presented to Knox Board of Public Works

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Board of Public Works discussed plans for a storm water system for the new addition to the Knox Elementary School.

Andy Bearman from Commonwealth Engineers said that the addition will create an additional one percent rain-water run-off as a portion of the ground covered with grass will be dug up for the project. That soft area was able to absorb the extra water so it wouldn’t create any water build up anywhere on the property.

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Knox Board of Public Works to Meet Today

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Board of Public Works will meet this morning where Building Administrator Bruce Williams will discuss a storm-water runoff issue as part of a new construction project for the Knox Community Elementary School. Williams told WKVI News that a 7,000 square foot addition is proposed at the school.

Street Superintendent Jeff Borg, Water Superintendent Todd Gardner, Wastewater Superintendent Kelly Clemons, and Police Chief Clint Norem will give department reports.

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Quotes Approved for New Street Department Truck

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Board of Public Works met Monday morning where quotes were opened for a cab and chassis plus equipment for a truck for the street department.

The board members approved the lowest quote for the cab and chassis for a 2016 International from Wiers International for $64,143.75 and an equipment quote from Lindco Equipment for $54,665 that includes hydraulics, salt spreader, plow, electrical, dump body, and hoist system. The quotes will be reviewed by Street Superintendent Jeff Borg and City Attorney David Matsey.

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Knox Street Department Ready for Winter Weather

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Knox Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Knox Board of Public Works members that the last leaf pickup was conducted last week and overall the season went really well.

Borg said his staff is ready to tackle winter. He has obtained a different sand to mix with the salt in order for it to distribute onto the road with greater ease. Borg said the sand has some fine stone in it so it can flow better and he’s purchased it from Area Excavating at a less expensive price and half of the cost of transportation to haul it to the city than the previous vendor and location. He indicated that there is a stockpile of the sand ready for when the snow hits.

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Knox Street Department Keeping Busy

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Knox Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Board of Public Works this week that the leaf pick-up program is keeping the employees busy. He added that the department is gearing up for the winter season. The first order of road salt should be placed at the first of December but the supply the city has now is healthy. He said prices jumped 50 percent per ton of road salt over last year’s price. Borg stated that the city should be in good shape and hopes that the weather isn’t as bad as last year.

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Knox Resident Disputes Sewer Bill

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Michael Milo disputed his 19 year sewer bill to the members of the Knox Board of Public Works Wednesday morning.

Milo claimed that when he purchased his home at 1306 Pine Street in 1995 he did not know that sewer lines were not hooked up to the city system. He recently learned that a septic system was on his property and he had been billed a sewer bill since he purchased the home even though the lines were not hooked up to the system.

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Progress Reports Given on Condemned Properties

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Board of Public Works members received an update on two properties that were recently ordered for demolition.

Cleon Wagner presented the board with a statement of a timeline for the clean up of the property at 353 E. Mound Street. Outside work has been done and the building has been sealed. Building Administrator Bruce Williams said he has looked at the foundation in the basement and it looks pretty solid. The Wagners explained that it will be six months or so before all of the work is done, but the building will be remodeled and the property will be cleared of blight.

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