Knox City Council Holds Public Hearing Over J.W. Hicks Annexation Petition

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

A public hearing over a petition for annexation was held when Knox City Council members met on Thursday. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford spoke on the behalf of the petitioner, J.W. Hicks Holding LLC.

Gifford explained that the Hicks organization previously purchased some property on the corner of Pacific Avenue. He said that when the company started looking into potential expansion, some records were reviewed and they discovered the property to the south, formerly the Hewlett property, was never annexed into the city. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Amends Golf Cart Ordinance to Include a More Specific Registration Time Frame

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

 

Knox City Council members amended the golf cart ordinance to provide some clarification about registration when they met Thursday night.

The language in the existing ordinance simply stated that registration would be good for one calendar year. However, Mayor Dennis Estok mentioned that caused some confusion since there was no consistency with when individuals were renewing. In order to make it easier to regulate, officials decided to come up with a set time-frame that registration would last. Continue reading →

Busy Agenda Provided for Tonight’s Knox City Council Meeting

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox City Council members will meet a little bit earlier than usual in order to cover the multiple items listed on tonight’s agenda.

Prior to the start of the meeting, a public hearing over the 5-Year Park Master Plan will be held at 6:45 p.m. Members will also consider a resolution to approve the Master Plan later in the evening.

The meeting will officially commence at 7 p.m. and another public hearing will be held over the petition submitted by J.W. Hicks for annexation into the City of Knox. Continue reading →

Knox Planning Commission Continues Accessory Building Discussion, Addresses Existing Violations

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

As the Knox Planning Commission continued their discussion over amending the accessory building ordinance, members also considered what to do about residents who are currently in violation.

During their meeting Tuesday night, President Greg Matt mentioned there are a few residences that have structures that are violating existing rules, such as one that prohibits breaking the plane of the front of the house and another that deals with proximity to sidewalks. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Considers Draft Ordinance Over “Official Duties” to Address Absenteeism Concerns

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox City Council members received a draft of an ordinance that will establish official duties of council members after their meeting last Tuesday.

Knox Mayor Dennis Estok has been coordinating with Indianapolis attorney John Molitor to construct an ordinance that lays out official council duties. The draft ordinance addresses things such as meeting attendance, consequences for multiple misses and adequate constituent representation. Continue reading →

Knox Mayor Provides Update About Reducing the Scope of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation Project

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox Mayor Dennis Estok provided a brief update about the city’s wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation project when city council members met last Tuesday.

Mayor Estok explained that the city was initially trying to obtain a USDA grant. However, that grant was not received and the project had to be reworked to be more financially feasible. Continue reading →

The Deadline to Sign Up for the Knox 50/50 Sidewalk Replacement Program is Coming Up Soon

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

With the weather improving many people may be looking to spruce up the area around their house or business. Luckily for citizens of Knox, there is still about one week to get involved in the city’s 50/50 Sidewalk Replacement program.

Mayor Dennis Estok issued a reminder about the upcoming deadline at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

Estok explained, “The 50/50 program for residents and commercial, the due date for that is coming up pretty fast so if anybody is going to enter it, they have to come up and get the application and have it in by May 4th to be a part of that program.” Continue reading →

Knox City Council Moves Forward with Bond Process Required for Fire Truck Purchase

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Steps were taken by Knox City Council members this week to finalize financial arrangements related to a pumper truck that will be purchased for the Knox-Center Township Fire Department.

An appropriation hearing was held and two ordinances were considered on final readings when members met on Tuesday.

These steps were necessary so that when officials are ready to make a payment for the truck, the General Obligation bonds that are being used to finance the purchase will be sold and then the money can be appropriated to pay the fire truck company. Continue reading →

Knox Mayor Reschedules City Council Meetings for the Month of May

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox City Council meetings for the month of May had to be rescheduled so Mayor Dennis Estok filled council members in on the changes when they met Tuesday night.

Typically, Knox officials hold their city council meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. However, in May, the meetings will be held on the second and fourth Thursday which will be May 10th and May 24th. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Meets Tonight

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

An appropriation hearing will be held over the 2018 General Obligation Bond issue when Knox City Council members meet tonight at 7 p.m.

Additionally, members will consider two ordinances on second and final reading. One ordinance is to authorize the sale of the general obligation bond for the fire truck and the other will approve the appropriation of the bond. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Considers One Petition For Annexation and One for Vacation

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox City Council amended their agenda to consider two petitions when they met last Tuesday. The first petition was from JW Hicks for voluntary annexation of a piece of real estate into the city of Knox. Members unanimously approved a motion to enter the petition into their minutes and to advertise for a public hearing over the request.

Members also addressed a request from business owner Tim Miller related a dual-purpose structure he’s trying to build on Pacific Avenue. Miller’s petition asks the city to vacate a 66-foot easement behind his property so he can meet the 40-foot set back requirement for rear-yards on commercial properties. Continue reading →

Knox Clerk-Treasurer Alerts City Council Members About Several Property Liens

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston informed city council members that liens have been made against 9 properties in the city for overdue sewer and sanitation bills.

At Tuesday night’s city council meeting Clerk-Treasurer Houston shared that sewer and sanitation liens were recently filed, in accordance with state statute. He said initially 16 property owners were notified of past due bills. Continue reading →

Mayor of Knox Provides Community Crossings Project Update at City Council Meeting

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox Mayor Dennis Estok alerted city council members that work has begun on a Community Crossings Grant project. At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Mayor Estok explained that crews recently began removing old curbs and sidewalks on Water Street.

As a part of the project that was submitted to INDOT and subsequently approved, curbs and sidewalks will be replaced and repaving on Water Street, as well as Main Street from U.S. 35 to Mound Street, will be completed. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Meets Tonight

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox City Council members will receive a report from Mayor Dennis Estok when they meet tonight at 7 p.m.

There is a light agenda for tonight’s meeting, with the majority of topics coming from the Mayor’s report which will include an update about the Community Crossings Grant Project on Water Street, details about an upcoming visit from the organization “Neuter Scooter” and some information about the status of the continuously absent city council member and the proposed official duties ordinance. Continue reading →

Business Owner Submits Site Plan to Knox Planning Commission for Review, Faces Issue with Rear-Yard Setback Requirement

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

A Knox business owner looking to build a dual-purpose structure will have to complete a few more steps before construction can commence at his Pacific Avenue property.

Owner of Royal Star Builders Tim Miller came before the Planning Commission Tuesday night in order to present his site plan for review. Miller intends to construct a building at 409 Pacific Avenue that will serve as a shop for his construction company and an office for his wife’s bio-medical feedback business. Continue reading →

Knox Clerk-Treasurer Discusses Impact that Circuit Breaker Tax Caps Have on the City’s Budget

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox City Council members were informed about some anticipated changes to local circuit breaker tax caps they met last Tuesday.

Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston said that on March 1st, he attended a meeting with the financial advisors at Umbaugh and Associates where they presented information about funding in local government and the analysis of assessed value.

He added that Mayor Dennis Estok, county representatives, local school administrators and other city and town officials were also in attendance at the March meeting.  Continue reading →

Knox Clerk-Treasurer Discusses Event Success and Important Takeaway from the SCEDF Retreat

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Starke County Community Services recently received a plethora of food donations thanks to the “Bluegrass Jam” event hosted by the City of Knox on March 25th.

At Tuesday night’s Knox City Council meeting Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston mentioned that the entry fee for the event was a food donation. Although he didn’t have an exact number for how much food was collected, he said the event was very well attended. He added that many people also provided compliments about the upgrades to the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center.

During his report, Houston also filled members in on the Starke County Economic Development Foundation Community Retreat that he attended with Mayor Dennis Estok and Councilman Jeff Berg. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Members Sign Annual Nepotism Contracts

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Nepotism contracts were passed out and signed during Tuesday night’s Knox City Council meeting.

Nepotism contracts are signed to prevent any potential conflicts-of-interest from occurring within a municipality. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston informed the council members that during a meeting he recently attended, he was advised to include this on the agenda even though it is an annual procedure.

Houston said there was one document that was passed out and signed to all the present council members. He added that since Councilman Don Kring recently completed some work for the city police department, there was another document only needed his signature. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Considers General Obligation Bond Ordinances on First Reading

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox City Council moved one step closer to acquiring a new fire truck for the Knox-Center Township Fire Department when they met Tuesday evening.

Two ordinances related to the 2018 General Obligation Bonds that will be required for the fire truck purchase were passed on first reading.

The first ordinance authorizes the sale of the bonds while the second one permits the funds to be appropriated once the truck is ready to be purchased. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explained that the ordinances will need to be advertised before they can be passed on final reading. Continue reading →