Knox City Council to Hold Public Hearing Over Wastewater Treatment Plant Project Tonight

The Knox City Council members will hold a public hearing over a project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant when they meet tonight.

Members are also expected to consider three resolutions. One resolution has to deal with wastewater system improvement bonds and another would authorize application submission and local match commitment in regards to a WDW application. Continue reading

Knox City Council Considers Economic Revitalization Area Request from JW Hicks

Knox City Council members held a public hearing and considered a resolution related to the designation of an Economic Revitalization Area in the Industrial Park when they met last Tuesday.

The request came from JW Hicks, Inc, as an expansion project unfolds at their Knox location. Founder James W. Hicks discussed the anticipated cost for the project. Continue reading

Knox Mayor Reports Pearl Street Paving Has to Wait Until Aging Pipes Are Replaced

Paving on Pearl Street that was originally listed as one of the Community Crossings Grant projects for the City of Knox will have to wait.

Mayor Dennis Estok told city council members last Tuesday that the brick road on Pearl Street that was originally supposed to be paved cannot be included in this year’s grant application due to some older pipes that are underneath the road. Continue reading

Budget Update Presented at Knox City Council Meeting

A reminder about the importance of staying on schedule when it comes to budget matters was provided at Tuesday night’s Knox City Council meeting.

Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston alerted members that the budget process is currently in underway. He noted that the first step is to balance out the month of June and then come mid-July, he will meet with a field representative from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. Continue reading

Knox City Council Extends Waste Management Contract

Knox City Council members considered extending the City’s garbage services contract with Waste Management when they met on Tuesday.

Public Sector Solutions Representative Melinda Antell came before the council to go over the proposed contract extension. She noted that initially she presented a five-year contract to Mayor Dennis Estok but he requested the shorter, three-year contract extension. Continue reading

District 4 Knox City Council Member to be Determined at Tonight’s Caucus, Council Meeting to Follow

The caucus to find a replacement for the open District 4 Knox City Council seat will be held tonight at 6:30 p.m.

Starke County Democrat Chairman Kenny Wallace shared that the three individuals submitted a letter of interest before the deadline. Those candidates will be considered and whoever is selected will be sworn in immediately following the caucus. They will be able to attend their first meeting as a member tonight.

The regularly scheduled city council meeting will commence at 7 p.m. Continue reading

Letters of Interest for the Open Knox City Council Seat Must be Submitted by Tomorrow

Time is running out to apply for the open seat on the Knox City Council. Individuals who reside in District 4 and are registered Democrats have until Friday to submit their letter of interest for consideration. Any letters that come in after the deadline will not be eligible

Letters must be delivered to Starke County Democrat Chairman Kenny Wallace. They can be sent by mail to his Knox residence located at 5175 East 200 South. Continue reading

Knox City Council Approves Amended General Obligation Bond Ordinance

Knox City Council members considered an amended General Obligation Bond Ordinance when they met last Tuesday.

As a reminder, the city of Knox will be purchasing a pumper truck for the Knox-Center Township Volunteer Fire Department to replace an aging model that is more than 30-years-old.

In order to finance the purchase, the city will be utilizing general obligation bonds. Continue reading

Knox Mayor Aims to Bring Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Grant Funds Back into the City

Mayor Dennis Estok told City Council members last Tuesday that he’s taking steps to bring the Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Grant back into Knox.

Mayor Estok explained that this specific funding assistance allows residents with lower incomes to apply to receive assistance with various home repairs. Estok said that in the past, recipients of the grant were awarded up to $15,000 in some cases. Continue reading

Selected Furniture’s Tax Abatement Request Denied by Knox City Council

A tax abatement request for Selected Furniture was considered during Tuesday night’s Knox City Council meeting. Mayor Dennis Estok presented the request to the council members and noted a few details about the company.

He shared that as of a few weeks ago, Selected Furniture still needed to pay about $37,458 in real property taxes and $21,062.85 in personal property taxes for a total of approximately $58,521 owed in back taxes. Continue reading

Public Vet’s Neuter Scooter to Return to Knox this Weekend

Due to the incredible success of the event that was held in April, Public Vet’s Neuter Scooter Mobile Clinic will be returning to the City of Knox.

The program provides an integral service that helps keep the feral cat population in check. Mayor Dennis Estok previously reported that more than 130 cats were registered for the last Neuter Scooter Mobile Clinic. Volunteers who are interested can opt to join with the proper requirements. There were already individuals with electric scooters who participated. Interested people are encouraged to get bikes, scooters, or even electric longboards on ScooterAdviser so they can join the cause.

According to the organization’s website, the Neuter Scooter will be in Knox from Friday, June 15th until Monday, June 18th. As a reminder, the exact location of the mobile clinic is not revealed until online registration is completed. Continue reading

Caucus to Replace District 4 Knox City Council Member Scheduled

The caucus to find the replacement for the District 4 Knox City Council member will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26th at Knox City Hall.

During citizen comments at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Mayor Dennis Estok mentioned that since the caucus will be held prior to the regularly scheduled meeting, the new member will be sworn in and will attend their first meeting that night. Continue reading

Knox City Council Meets Tonight

Knox City Council members will consider granting a tax abatement for Selected Furniture LLC when they meet tonight at 7 p.m. in Knox City Hall.

Project street print, which has been discussed briefly in past meetings, will be covered again tonight. Officials have been discussing the cost associated with painting the city emblem on sections of road in town as well as considering potential locations. Continue reading

Serenity Gardens Mural Starts to Take Shape, Preliminary Drawing Presented to Knox Officials

Preliminary Sketch of Serenity Gardens Mural

When the Knox City Council members met at the end of May, they received the first glimpse of the proposed mural that will be painted on the wall behind Serenity Gardens downtown.

Initially, three local artists were going to collaborate on a design, however, two of the individuals decided not to pursue the project. Instead, Oregon-Davis Art Teacher Joe Eskridge will be working on the mural himself. Continue reading

Knox City Council Votes to Purchase Double-Sided Message Board

When Knox City Council members met last month, they decided to move forward with purchasing a new digital message board, after first discussing the matter back in March.

Initially, when the topic was presented by Mayor Dennis Estok, he said that the double-sided message board he found would be 4 foot by 8 foot and would cost around $35,000.

He explained that placing a sign at the city’s entrance could help promote various community events and share other important announcements with citizens as well as motorists passing through. Continue reading