Thomas Morin recently appeared before the Knox City Council and the Starke County Commissioners with a detailed 22 page document that lays out a handicapped parking plan for city and residential parking.
In his presentation, Morin explained to the Knox City Council what he wanted for the downtown Knox business district.
Knox City Councilman Greg Matt described the electronic sign at the Knox Community Center as a dead horse. Matt told his fellow councilmen that he had a conversation with a representative of Vanadco Signs about the condition of the unit and came away convinced that it can’t be repaired.
The sign is occasionally on, but the right message isn’t displayed and other times it’s off for no reason. A new sign with enhanced graphics, featuring 64,000 color combinations, has been priced at $14,400 for the city. This would include training for office staff who could program it from City Hall.
Last week, Knox Mayor Rick Chambers reminded the City Council members that the cost of garbage pickup in the City would increase on August 1st. The total cost will go up just over $5,000.
“In 2010, it was $206,967.60,” the Mayor told the Council. “On July 31st, it will go up to 212,076.”
The increase per customers is only pennies.
The deal that the City of Knox has with Beverly and Carl Wells for a building that they own across from Knox City Hall might be on again. Wells had offered the building to the City at the February 8th City Council meeting, and on a 3-2 vote the Council members agreed to purchase it for $120,000 with $20,000 down and 5 year annual payments of $20,000 a year.
Because they needed two appraisals to purchase the property, the deal could not be consummated in the time line given by Wells. He told Mayor Rick Chambers that he was going to start remodeling the building for offices if the City didn’t take agreement that week. That seemed to end the negotiations.
Trying to be proactive in anticipation of the elimination of township government, the Knox City Council invited John Julien, of Umbaugh and Associates, to explain the formation of a Fire Territory.
As explained by Julien, contiguous areas or townships could form a Fire Territory. The Knox Volunteer Fire Department has an agreement with Center Township and a contractual arrangement with part of Jackson Township to provide fire service. Under a Fire Territory, all property owners in the created district would pay the same tax rate for fire protection. They would also receive a uniform level of service.
Knox municipal water and sewer customers might be asked to sign a written contract for services in the near future. That subject was discussed at last week’s Knox City Council meeting.
Attorney David Matsey said most small town utilities demand a signed contract. He said the information could be used in court in case a party doesn’t pay or “skips” without making payment for the services provided.
One ticklish part of the contract would be how to identify the homeowner or tenant. Asking for a drivers license number or social security number must include protection for identity theft.
Mayor Rick Chambers told the City Council members this week that the sign at the Community Center has to be replaced. The sign is 12 years old and is obsolete. The control box has quit.
The time clock at City Hall has quit.
“It’s an hour off and there’s no way to adjust it,” said Mayor Chambers. “They want about $300 to come in and fix that. I don’t know how long the time clock has been here. A new one is anywhere between $250 and $900, depending on what you get. We either need to get a new time clock or just do away with the time clock.”
The Knox City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday night to purchase a building from Dean Wells, located at the north end of the city parking lot, across from City Hall. 12 hours later, the deal fell through. The Council had voted to purchase the building for $120,000 with $25,000 down and $20,000 due each year for 5 years.
It was discovered that the building needed two appraisals before the transaction could be completed so the deal fell through. The sale might be successful at a later time, but Mr. Wells informed the Council that he is going ahead with remodeling plans for the building, and that it probably would not be listed at that price again.
The City was going to use the building for storage, with a possibility of moving the Police Department there at a future date.
Voting for the purchase was Greg Matt, Jeff Berg Council President Ed Blue. Voting against were Council members Linda Berndt and Ron Parker.
The Knox City Council discussed Halloween at it’s most recent meeting. Even though it’s a little early, the Council established Monday, October 31st as the official Trick or Treat night.
The reason they discussed Halloween is that the Knox Kiwanis Club has traditionally put on the Trick or Treat costume judging and party. The Council has been informed that the Kiwanis Club may not be able to sponsor the activities this year.
The City of Knox does not have a Fire Department. That was explained to the Knox City Council this week by City Attorney, David Matsey. The discussion was held after Mayor Rick Chambers read a letter asking the City to sign a contract to provide fire coverage in Jackson Township.
Matsey explained that the Knox-Center Township Volunteer Fire Department is incorporated. It is funded by the city of Knox ($115,000 yearly) and Center Township ($30,000 annually) but is an entity of its own.
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers has notified the Knox City Council that the TIF fund has grown to just over $151,000. The fund has grown to this level over the past two years. Before that, those funds were not building, but the City contracted with Umbaugh and Associates to determine the amount due. Money from the TIF fund can be used within the district for redevelopment, public improvement projects, training, or making bond payments.
The Council members are to prepare suggestions for how a portion of the funds can be used for upgrades.
The Knox City Council, which has been asked to make a monetary donation to the Friends of the Park organization, is demanding better accounting of the money received from donations and booth fees before voting to approve the request.
“I do think we need to get a better report on their funds and on their flow of cash this time than what we have been demanding from them,” said Clerk-Treasurer, Jeff Houston.
Mayor Rick Chambers has given Knox City Council members copies of the newest Community Center Rental Agreement.
One of the sections of the agreement spells out the restrictions of serving alcohol at an event. If alcohol is to be served, the renter must apply for and obtain a temporary beer/wine permit from the Indiana Alcohol Beverage Commission. Only a licensed bartender may supply or dispense alcoholic beverages. And security is required through the Starke County Sheriff’s Posse at the renter’s expense. The Posse members on duty must stay for the entire duration of the event and lock the facility. All events where alcohol is served must be ended by 12:00 midnight.
Those old enough to remember the early days of fluoridation of drinking water also remember the controversy it caused. In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, many people thought it was a communist plot to undermine public health.
Most public officials that added fluoride to the town or city’s drinking water claimed that it helped prevent tooth decay.
Whatever side you were on, fluoridation continued.
The Knox City Council learned that the City of Knox received a storm water infrastructure project grant worth $837,095. The Council will be providing a 20% match of $166,000 toward this project.
Clerk-Treasurer, Jeff Houston, announced that new tables and chairs have been ordered for the Knox Community Center. The dance floor was repaired and the carpets cleaned. The Council plans to review procedures for the Community Center in the near future.
Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:
Pulaski County Officers elected into office in the General Election were sworn into office Tuesday afternoon. Officers were sworn in by Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn and Superior Court Judge Patrick Blankenship.
Starke United Executive Director, Edie Hall, told WKVI that the WKVI-Starke United Auction netted $7,669.
The estimated amount of damage done to the Knox Community Center on December 11th comes to $18,713.03. 25 tables and 112 chairs were damaged and the carpets were stained during a wedding reception held at the facility.
The City of Knox continues to work with Nicole Dobson and Brandon Bailey who have reportedly told the City that they are taking responsibility for the damages.
During the December 14th Knox City Council meeting, the Council members talked about increasing security measures at the Community Center to discourage this type of behavior.
At the recent meeting of the Knox City Council, Starke County Development Foundation Director, Charles Weaver, requested that the Council change the name of the Knox Industrial Park to the Starke County Rail Park. The Council unanimously approved the name change and the proposal will be taken to the Starke County Commissioners for approval. The name was changed to give it a county feel rather than a city feel.
At their recent meeting, the Knox City Council members tabled the third and final reading of a synthetic marijuana ordinance. The Mayor suggested the delay because the Federal government is getting involved and the state legislature will be looking at a possible law in the next session. Synthetic marijuana is normally smoked by users and has, in some cases, proven fatal.
Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:
Marvin Allen of Knox is this year’s recipient of the Indiana Historical Society’s Hubert Hawkins History Award. The award is made annually to a local historian for his or her distinguished service and career in local history.
Two trees from Hensler Nursery were delivered to the Statehouse this week.
