The Knox City Council received information on the possible purchase of a machine to help better clear the snow from the downtown area.
Mayor Rick Chambers explained to the council that it would be easier if a little John Deere tractor with a cab and heater be used to clear the snow on the sidewalks downtown. Chambers said the Knox Community School Corporation utilizes similar equipment and it works efficiently.
The Knox City Council discussed an easement agreement for the water project for the new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center. The city is putting in water lines that will extend to the property from Henry Drive.
City Attorney David Matsey explained that one of the owners of the property would like to strike a sentence in the agreement which states, “Provided further, that if Owner makes any use of the easement that increases the city operation and maintenance and or restoration costs, then the Owner shall pay for the increase in costs.”
The city of Knox will be refunded a $200 fee from the Board of Zoning Appeals for Gary Dulin after the city council this week approved the refund due to a city ordinance that had been overlooked before the fee was charged. Mayor Rick Chambers told the council that Plan Commissioner Bruce Williams had been working with Dulin on Water Street regarding a request from Dulin to keep horses on his land, and charged a $200 BZA fee in order for the matter to be reviewed.
The attorney for the city of Knox presented an update on the water line issue regarding the construction of the new county jail facility at the meeting of the city council this week. Attorney David Matsey told the council that the project is making progress, and he recently reviewed the final draft of the memorandum of understanding with County Attorney Martin Lucas. In addition, the owners of the property to be used by the county to build the jail are reviewing the documents related to the easement.
The Knox City Council at their meeting last night discussed the possibility of modifying their schedule of ordinance violation fines after City Police Chief Clint Norem advised them that some of the fees, particularly those associated with parking, are very low. He said the cost involved doesn’t come close to the expense of filing the fine, sending notices and sending an officer out to write the fine up.
The Knox City Council this week adopted the resolution for the 2014 budget, having held the public hearing at the end of last month. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explained to the board that the city expects to see an increase in the overall budget of just under 3 percent; however, he said the city will likely have to make some cuts in order to capture the maximum amount of taxes the city has coming to it, but overall, the budget is in pretty good shape.
According to the nomination letter written to Chambers by Lawson, Lewandowski is not only the director of Kid’s Closet Ministry, an organization run out of the north Judson Methodist Church to give needy families gently used clothing, but she also organized an event to give backpacks for the start of school to families. The event gave more than 100 backpacks to families in need.
The Knox City Council approved the third and final reading of an ordinance that creates a fund for fees collected for rental property registrations and inspections.
Mayor Rick Chambers clarified that there are no new fees with this ordinance, and said the city was just required by the state to create a separate fund in the budget for the fees. The fees are currently $25 for both rental property registrations and inspections. The city building administrator and the council may look at adjusting that fee at a later time.
The fees have to placed in a certain account per Indiana code. The motion was made by Greg Matt, seconded by Jeff Berg, and passed unanimously.
The Knox City Council members will be honoring the Unsung Hero prior to the start of their regular meeting tonight in Knox City Hall.
The name of the recipient hasn’t been released so the winner will be a surprise to those attending the meeting tonight at 7 p.m. CT. Knox Mayor Rick Chambers will be presenting the award to the person whom a committee has chosen as the county’s unsung hero for performing random acts of kindness.
The Knox City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance that creates a fund for fees collected for rental property registrations and inspections.
Mayor Rick Chambers clarified that there are no new fees with this ordinance. The city just had to create a separate fund in the budget for the fees. The fees are currently $25 for both rental property registrations and inspections. The city building administrator and the council may look at adjusting that fee at a later time.
While the winner has been chosen for this year’s Unsung Hero/Random Act of Kindness Award, Knox Mayor Rick Chambers said he will not be announcing the winner until he or she has been recognized during the city council’s next meeting on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. Chambers said the regular meeting will start at 7:15 p.m. to allow a short recognition ceremony prior to the meeting, to thank the award recipient.
The committee believes that the candidate is very deserving of the award, especially with what the award winner has done for the community.
The big celebration that was planned at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center has been canceled for Sept. 15 and Chambers said the only recognition ceremony will take place at the meeting of the Knox City Council.
Knox City Council Attorney David Matsey is looking to draft a Memorandum of Understanding between the city council and the Starke County Commissioners regarding the jail water project.
The council thought that it should be spelled out what every party is responsible for, especially when it comes to payment of vouchers. One question that Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston had was how to pay the vouchers. Would the city need to pay up front and wait a possible 45 days for the county council or commissioners to approve the claims in order to reimburse the city?
The Knox City Council will meet in regular session tonight.
The council members are expected to approve the second reading of ordinance #1138 which establishes the rental property registration and inspection fund. The council will also consider a transfer of funds.
The city attorney will report on any possible litigation, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston will have a report and other items of consideration will also be presented.
The Knox City Council will meet at 7 p.m. CT tonight at the Knox City Hall.
The Knox City Council this week approved a motion creating a fund to be used for rental property inspection fees, a necessary step in order for the city to collect those fees, according to Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston. He explained that the Indiana Code regarding rental property inspection fees was recently changed, and now the money must go into a special non-reverting fund. Because this fund did not yet exist in the city’s budget, Houston said the council must pass a motion to create that fund in order to charge the fees.
The Knox City Council will hold a public hearing during their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 27 to discuss the 2014 budget, and according to Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, the city expects to see an increase in the overall budget of just under 3 percent. However, he said the city will likely have to make some cuts in order to capture the maximum amount of taxes the city has coming to it, but overall, the budget is in pretty good shape.
The Knox City Council last week approved the city’s holiday schedule for 2014, including trick or treat hours. According to the press release, the city will celebrate New Year’s Day on Jan. 1 and Martin Luther King Day on Monday, Jan. 20.
In February, the city will honor President’s Day on Feb. 17, with no holidays planned in March. Good Friday falls on April 18 and will be observed by the city; Election Day is Tuesday, May 6 and Memorial Day is Monday, May 26.
A necessary infrastructure improvement to keep the Starke County Jail project on schedule will be discussed during a special-called Knox City Council meeting this evening. The pressure from the water pipe that feeds the facility on State Road 8 east of Knox is not adequate to provide fire protection to the building, based on the results of a recent hydrant test. City and county officials are studying options to remedy that problem and have decided that running a loop from Henry Drive to Edgewood to the highway is the best option in terms of cost and the time frame necessary to finish the project. Dennis and Chuck Estok have agreed to donate an easement through their property in order to accommodate the upgrade. The work needs to be done by April 1, 2014 in order to keep the jail project on schedule. Other options include building an underground tank to hold water or constructing a temporary tank above ground until the water lines can be upgraded. However, both options are considerably more expensive than running a loop to join with the existing pipe. The county commissioners agreed to spend up to $50,000 for the upgrade, with the work to be done by the city. The city council will consider that offer during a meeting this evening at 7 p.m.
