Ordinances pertaining to the authorization and appropriation of the 2018 General Obligation Bonds will be considered when Knox City Council members meet tonight.
The G.O Bonds are being acquired for the purchase of a fire truck for the Knox-Center Township Fire Department.
Members are also expected to discuss nepotism and contracting certifications. Continue reading
The Knox Board of Public Works will meet today where they will receive updates on renovation efforts at 6 N. Pearl Street and 1 and 3 N. Main Street. The owners of the properties have certain timelines to meet so fines aren’t imposed. The structures have been deemed unsafe and need rehabilitation.
Knox City Council members considered a grant administrator agreement with Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission on Tuesday night. KIRPC representative Shawn Cain told the council that the agreement would be to assist the city with the OCRA grant they recently received for the Knox Parks 5-Year Master Plan.
Cain said the agreement would allow KIRPC reps to assist the clerk-treasurer with reports and claims and they’d also be available to answer any questions that the council members may have in the future. Cain added that there is a $2,000 charge for their services. Continue reading
The Knox City Council will meet tonight where the election of the 2018 Council President Pro Temp will be addressed.
Council members will consider appointments for the BZA, the Starke County Solid Waste Board, the Starke County Economic Development Foundation as well as the Plan Commission and Redevelopment Commission. Mayor Dennis Estok will also present his mayoral appointments.
An amendment to the Salary Ordinance will be considered on first reading and the second reading over the Ordinance to Eliminate Obstructions will be held. Continue reading
Members of the Knox Board of Public Works and Safety will meet today.
The board members plan on getting an update on repairs to 1 and 3 N. Main Street. Building Owner Pete Milev was ordered by the board at their last meeting to make substantial progress on exterior and interior issues to the buildings. Earlier this year, Knox Planning Administrator and Director of Building and Code Compliance Kenny Pfost sent Milev a list of code enforcement violations and a time frame in which to make those repairs. No repairs were made by the November meeting so it is the hope of the board to get a positive report this morning. They are expecting to see a timelime of repairs and substantial progress on the violations noted. If those items are not to the board’s satisfaction, a $2,500 fee will be imposed.
The Knox City Council members are anticipating an update from a representative with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation when they meet tonight.
The agenda for tonight’s meeting is pretty light but Mayor Dennis Estok said during his report he will touch on a few items that have been discussed in the past such as the city’s contract with the humane society and the new bulb installation on Main Street.
Mayor Estok said he’ll also be talking to the council members about the renewal of the Parks and Recreation Department 5-year Master Plan. Continue reading
The Knox Board of Public Works will meet today where a public hearing is scheduled for the property at 1 and 3 N. Main Street.
The board members took action in October to enforce unsafe building violations at that location. Mayor Dennis Estok said the Main Street property owner was previously told to replace glass in the storefront and respond to other violations within the building and it wasn’t done within the timeframe given.
The Knox City Council has quite a few important matters on the agenda for their meeting this evening. A public hearing on the 2018 budget is scheduled as well as a resolution for the transfer of funds. Continue reading
The Knox Board of Public Works members will review a project design today for the stormwater separation project in the alley between Washington Street and Lake Street, west of Main Street in downtown Knox.
The Knox City-Wide Yard Sales are scheduled for Mother’s Day weekend. They will start Thursday, May 11 and wrap up Saturday, May 13. Sales will take place each day from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Continue reading
The City of Knox is hosting a free event to help residents protect themselves from identity theft and get rid of clutter. Continue reading
Knox residents with piles of papers that need to be disposed of will have an opportunity to do just that in a few weeks. The City of Knox will host a free paper shredding event on Friday, June 24th from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the city hall parking lot at 101 West Washington Street. Continue reading
Knox City Hall will be closed for a few hours tomorrow so employees can attend the funeral of a longtime public servant.
Ed Blue, 74, of Knox, died Saturday. He served 16 years as a Knox City Councilman and was president for two of those years. Ed was a member of the Board of Public Works at the time of his death, having served as a member of that body for 15 years. He also served on the Starke County Environmental Management Solid Waste Board. Ed owned E&B Plumbing in Knox. Continue reading
The City of Knox has another set of town-wide yard sales scheduled for September 19th and 20th. Anyone within city limits or on the outskirts is permitted to participate. There are also spots open for vendors. A free map will be available in the parking lot of the Moose Lodge on the specified dates in September. Continue reading
Volunteers are being sought for this year’s Harvest Festival in Knox.
Several committees have been formed to take care of certain aspects of the festival and those leaders are looking for community volunteers.
A fundraiser is planned and help is being sought for the event. An entertainment committee will also need help along with other groups to help put together a successful event.
The Knox Harvest Days Festival Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 11 to discuss the upcoming community event.
The Harvest Days Festival was not held the last two years. In a previous Knox City Council meeting, it was announced that an individual would like to take over the festival and offer the same type of activities as events before. She said many church organizations are willing to step in and help put it together. It would be held Aug. 21 through Aug. 23.
The Knox City Council members will be approving a fireworks date when they meet for their regular meeting tonight. When they met on Jan. 13, the council members had concerns holding the fireworks celebration on the Fourth of July as they were afraid of interfering with family gatherings. If the celebration was on July 3, the fireworks celebration would cost the city less money and more people could come through the gate. The matter will be settled tonight.
The Knox Board of Public Works will meet this morning to take care of end-of-the-year business.
The board will open and review sealed quotes for purchase of a truck and bed for the street department. Street Superintendent Jeff Borg said previously that he will be ordering more parts for the new truck as money is available.
It might just be a sign of the times but more and more municipalities are installing surveillance cameras. Knox Mayor Rick Chambers brought the idea of installing cameras in City Hall to the City Council meeting recently. In his presentation, Chambers said there are irate customers from time to time at the Clerk-Treasurer’s office and the Knox City Court. The court has the potential for incidents to happen in the heat of testimony and decisions being made from the bench.
