City of Knox Makes More Than $3000 Selling Old Equipment

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The city of Knox turned some unused equipment into cash after selling the equipment on eBay, a method that Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston described as a good method of liquidating out-of-use items. Houston said the city sold a GMC van for $1183, which will go into the General Fund, as well as a snow plow blade for $185.66 toward the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund. A mosquito fogger was also sold for $1785.60.

In all, the city made $3154.26, after calculating eBay fees, and Mayor Rick Chambers agreed that it is an easy, inexpensive way of selling spare or old equipment.

City of Knox Receives Second Life Insurance Rebate

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The city of Knox will be receiving another rebate from their life insurance company to the tune of $8309.98, according to Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston.

Houston explained that the city had received a letter from Trustmark Life Insurance Company explaining that the city would receive the rebate as required under the Affordable Care Act. The company had spent more than 20 percent of its premiums on administrative costs, salaries, sales, and advertising, and as a result, that extra amount spent must be returned to the city.

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Knox City Council Approves, Adopts 2014 Salary Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

A new salary ordinance is in the books for the city of Knox. The city council last night passed the 2014 salary ordinance on its third reading, adopting the ordinance that includes raises for all elected officials and salaried employees. After the first reading of the ordinance, Mayor Rick Chambers explained that a few corrections needed to be reflected in the ordinance before it was passed on its second reading, and those changes were also reflected in the third reading passed unanimously by the council last night.

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Knox City Council Discusses Building Permit Fee

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council this week discussed building permit fees after a resident left paperwork with Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explaining he felt he was overcharged when he bought a permit to add an addition to a pole barn. The resident explained he was issued a building permit for a 24-foot-by-40-foot addition to an existing pole barn and was charged $192, though he thought the accessory building permit should have only been $75.

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Knox City Council Passes Salary Ordinance on Second Reading

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The new salary ordinance for the city of Knox is one step closer to being adopted, as the city council this week approved the ordinance on its seconded reading. The salary ordinance includes raises for all elected officials and salaried employees. Mayor Rick Chambers explained that a few corrections needed to be reflected in the ordinance before it was passed on its second reading, and those changes were reflected in the reading passed unanimously by the council last night.

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Knox City Council Approves Salary Ordinance on First Reading

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

Knox officials may soon receive a three percent raise, as the city council this week approved a salary ordinance on its first reading that included the raise for all elected officials and salaried employees. Mayor Rick Chambers explained that a few corrections do need to be reflected in the ordinance before it is passed on its second reading, however.

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Four-Way Stop to Be Installed at Washington, East Intersection in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

Drivers on Washington and East streets in Knox will soon notice a bit of a change as the city council this week approved a resolution to install a four-way stop at the intersection of the two streets. Mayor Rick Chambers read the resolution aloud at their meeting Tuesday night and explained that due to the proximity of the streets to a nearby school, it creates a hazardous condition to the pedestrians and vehicle traffic in the area.

Consequently, the council unanimously approved a resolution to install a four-way stop, a change to the current two-way stop at the intersection. Signs will soon be installed.

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Two Knox City Officials Apply for Sidewalk Reimbursement

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

Two city officials from Knox have applied for the 50/50 sidewalk reimbursement program, and now the pair must file conflict of interest statements as recommended by the city attorney. Attorney David Matsey told the council that Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston and Councilman Jeff Berg have applied for the program and the council must now approve the statements before filing them with the State Board of Accounts, circuit court clerk, and the Indiana State Ethics Commission.

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Knox City Council to Proceed with Squad Car Grant Application

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox City Council this week held a public hearing in order to continue with the grant application process for a new city police squad car after a police vehicle was totaled after striking a deer. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explained that the city has applied for the grant and they are eagerly awaiting the response; however, no grant funds are available until next year, but Houston said he remains hopeful that money will become available.

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City of Knox Seeking Grant to Replace Squad Car

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Efforts continue for the city of Knox to replace a police cruiser that had been totaled when an officer struck a deer, and Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston is working on getting a grant for the city to help cover the cost of a new squad car. Houston said that because of the per-capita income for the city, they may be eligible for a larger grant than what he had originally anticipated.

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Pre-Bid Meeting Set for Demolition of 2 & 4 N. Main St. in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The buildings at 2 and 4 N. Main St. in Knox will soon be but a memory as the Knox City Council will soon be taking bids for their demolition. Engineering firm Territorial Engineering has put together a bid package for their destruction and the Knox City Council Tuesday night approved the bid letting with a pre-bid meeting to be held on June 10 at 9:30 a.m. at Knox City Hall. Bids will be accepted up to June 26 at 9:30 a.m.

To ensure that the historical buildings are not forgotten, however, the Starke County Economic Development Foundation recently received final approval from all the agencies required to sign off on a book to be composed with the history and pictures of the two buildings. A copy of the book was presented to the council and another will go to the Starke County Museum.

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Knox City Council Approves Another $20,000 Toward Sewer Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council last night approved a motion to add up to $20,000 to the lift station project from the city’s Sewer Improvement Fund after Mayor Rick Chambers explained that the bids for the project came in just over the estimated cost. Territorial Engineering had estimated that the project would cost around $188,000, and the lowest bid came in at $170,405; unfortunately, with engineering and contingency costs, Chambers said the council would need to appropriate another $20,000 toward the project.

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Cumulative Capital Fund Ordinance to Undergo Third Reading

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

Following their failure to reach a quorum at their regularly-scheduled meeting on April 23, the Knox City Council last night met in a special meeting to conduct the business they were unable to conduct the week prior – particularly the re-establishment of the cumulative capital development fund for the city. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explained that because the fund is rate-driven rather than levy-driven, the percentage of funds going toward the cumulative capital fund decreases over time.

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Knox Council Fails to Reach Quorum; Special Meeting Scheduled

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council held a public hearing last night in regards to re-establishing the cumulative capital development fund for the city, but no city taxpayers were present to give their input on the matter. Unfortunately, the council did not have a quorum as three members were absent, preventing them from conducting any official business besides discussion.

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Knox Council to Hold Public Hearing on Cumulative Capital Fund

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council will be holding a public hearing tonight in regards to re-establishing the cumulative capital development fund for the city. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explained that the council would like to re-establish that fund because over time the levy – that is, the amount of money raised from taxes – goes up, while the percentage of funds going toward the cumulative capital fund goes down.

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Knox City Council Receives Project Updates

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers this week gave the city council updates on several projects currently in the works for the city, including the lift station and Phoenix House projects.

Chambers said the sewer project is moving along after the council at their previous meeting approved an additional appropriation of $140,000 for the project. Now, he said six bid packets have been picked up from the city and they’re waiting to hear back from bidders for the project, which entails installing a new lift station near the South Side Fire Station. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston said the lift station is a necessity for the city to allow for present and future growth in the area as the current system is antiquated and no longer suit’s the city’s needs.

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Apply Now for Owner-Occupied Rehab Grant Money

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Applications are now being accepted for the owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program in the city of Knox.

The program is designed to help elderly, disabled, low-income and single parents with children in the home receive funding to help improve safety conditions at their place of residence. These improvements may include a new furnace, roofing, plumbing, electrical, windows, and other qualified accessibility and safety issues. The home must be structurally sound. Those who apply for this program must meet certain criteria.

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Knox Council Approves Sewer Project Appropriation

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The sewer project for the city of Knox is moving along as officials look to put in a new lift station near the South Side Fire Station. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explained to the city council this week that the additional appropriation approved for the project last year expired at the start of the new year, and Houston said they would now have to approve the appropriation once again.

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Knox City Police Dept. Reimbursed for Wrecked Cruiser; Still Short One Vehicle

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Police Department is currently down one police cruiser after an officer struck a deer and totaled the vehicle. Fortunately, Mayor Rick Chambers told the city council this week that the insurance company totaled the vehicle and reimbursed the city $6900 for the 2007 Crown Victoria, but Chambers said that reimbursement isn’t quite enough to cover the cost of a new vehicle.

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Knox Council Agrees Toll Brothers is in Compliance With Tax Abatement

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council this week reviewed the efforts made by Toll Brothers in keeping with their tax abatement and approved a motion stating that the company is in substantial compliance or has made reasonable effort to keep with the terms of the abatement. Charlie Weaver, the executive director of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, and Toll Brothers owner Brian Trapp approached the council requesting the compliance statement.

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