The Town of Hamlet is joining Starke County’s effort to become a Stellar Community. The county government plans to team up with the county’s three incorporated municipalities to apply for a regional Stellar designation in 2019. The Hamlet Town Council voted Wednesday to move forward with the process, along with the rest of the county.
Serenity Gardens Mural Project in Knox Could Possibly Start as Soon as This Week
As long as the weather cooperates and the necessary equipment can be accessed, the mural project at Serenity Gardens in Knox could get started as soon as this week.
Mayor Dennis Estok met with artist Joe Eskridge last Wednesday to go over details related to the project at the corner of Main and Lake Streets. When discussing the strategy of how he plans to tackle the wall mural, Eskridge said he is going to utilize a grid pattern to help break up the work. Continue reading
Knox City Council Holds Hearing Over Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project
Knox City Council members held a public hearing and considered two resolutions related to the proposed improvement project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant when they met this week.
At the start of Tuesday’s hearing, KIRPC Community Development Planner Emily Albaugh reminded those in attendance that the City of Knox is applying for OCRA’s Wastewater Drinking Water grant. Continue reading
Mayor Dennis Estok Reports that Knox Fourth of July Celebration was a Big Hit
Knox Mayor Dennis Estok told city council members Tuesday night that this year’s Fourth of July event was a major success.
During the Mayor’s report, Estok told members that this was the most attended Independence Day celebration in recent years and estimated that between 4,000 and 5,000 people participated in the festivities. Continue reading
Knox Board of Works Considers Bids for JW Hicks Sewer Extension
Knox Board of Works members considered bids for a sewer extension at JW Hicks when they met at the end of June.
Mayor Dennis Estok said that the firm Territorial Engineering handled writing up the specifications and other aspects of the bidding process. There were two bids received for the project. Continue reading
Knox Board of Works Receives Update About Pearl Street Structure
A progress report on a Pearl Street property was provided when Knox Board of Works members met last Wednesday.
Neighborhood Development Project Manager Rosie Levya provided the update and handed out the schematics of what is planned for the disheveled structure that stands at 6 N. Pearl Street. Continue reading
SCEDF Checks in With Knox Officials about Interest in Local Stellar Effort
Knox Mayor Dennis Estok said city officials are going to wait to come on board with a local Stellar effort until a bit more research has been done. Continue reading
Upgrades Needed at Pacific Lift Station Brought to the Attention of Knox Board of Works
Knox Wastewater Superintendent Kelly Clemons informed Board of Works members last Wednesday that an integral lift station that services much of the Industrial Park needs some upgrades.
The superintendent explained, “Our Pacific lift station, we want to rebuild the valve box in that. While we’re doing this we want to add a bypass so if the pumps go down, the power goes down or something happens we can get that water moved down the line.” Continue reading
Knox Mayor Reports Pearl Street Paving Has to Wait Until Aging Pipes Are Replaced
Paving on Pearl Street that was originally listed as one of the Community Crossings Grant projects for the City of Knox will have to wait.
Mayor Dennis Estok told city council members last Tuesday that the brick road on Pearl Street that was originally supposed to be paved cannot be included in this year’s grant application due to some older pipes that are underneath the road. Continue reading
Knox Board of Works Receives Progress Report Over Various Rental Properties
When Knox Board of Works members met Wednesday morning they discussed the ongoing repairs being made to several rental properties owned Melvin Zieters. Continue reading
Hamlet Council to Consider Joining Starke County’s Stellar Communities Application
The Hamlet Town Council is being asked to make a decision on whether or not it will be part of Starke County’s quest to become a Stellar Community. The Starke County Economic Development Foundation has been spearheading the effort, which officials hope will open the door to additional grant opportunities and investment.
Knox BOW Addresses Non-compliance on Main Street Property
Members of the Knox Board of Works discussed a non-compliance issue with a Main Street property owner when they met this week. Continue reading
Knox City Council Extends Waste Management Contract
Knox City Council members considered extending the City’s garbage services contract with Waste Management when they met on Tuesday.
Public Sector Solutions Representative Melinda Antell came before the council to go over the proposed contract extension. She noted that initially she presented a five-year contract to Mayor Dennis Estok but he requested the shorter, three-year contract extension. Continue reading
Knox City Council Adjusts Street Sweeping Schedule
The Knox City Council members were tasked with amending the street sweeping route ordinance when they met this week. Continue reading
Knox BOW Approves Bid for 2018 Sewer Lining Project
Knox Board of Works members considered bids for the 2018 sewer lining project when they met Wednesday morning. Continue reading
Knox City Council Gains New Member
District 4 Resident Bill Gustafson was determined to be the new Knox City Council Member when a caucus was held at City Hall Tuesday evening.
Gustafson was in the running with two other candidates, Cyndi Mann Kidder and Linda Barker Schwarzlose. Continue reading
Knox City Council Members Vote to Move Forward with Street Print Project
Knox officials are currently working to implement some of the projects established in their 2015 comprehensive plan.
When the city council met last Tuesday, Mayor Dennis Estok reminded the members about some of the projects that were included in the plan. He mentioned that the mural that will be painted on the wall behind Serenity Gardens was a part of it.
That project is currently in the design phase and city council members will now be tackling another project in the comprehensive plan, the street print project. He said, “We’ve talked about the street print to put on the corner of Lake and Main streets.” Estok reminded them, “You’ll have designed crosswalks and the city emblem in the middle of that intersection.” Continue reading
Knox Mayor Aims to Bring Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Grant Funds Back into the City
Mayor Dennis Estok told City Council members last Tuesday that he’s taking steps to bring the Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Grant back into Knox.
Mayor Estok explained that this specific funding assistance allows residents with lower incomes to apply to receive assistance with various home repairs. Estok said that in the past, recipients of the grant were awarded up to $15,000 in some cases. Continue reading
Selected Furniture’s Tax Abatement Request Denied by Knox City Council
A tax abatement request for Selected Furniture was considered during Tuesday night’s Knox City Council meeting. Mayor Dennis Estok presented the request to the council members and noted a few details about the company.
He shared that as of a few weeks ago, Selected Furniture still needed to pay about $37,458 in real property taxes and $21,062.85 in personal property taxes for a total of approximately $58,521 owed in back taxes. Continue reading
Public Vet’s Neuter Scooter to Return to Knox this Weekend
Due to the incredible success of the event that was held in April, Public Vet’s Neuter Scooter Mobile Clinic will be returning to the City of Knox.
The program provides an integral service that helps keep the feral cat population in check. Mayor Dennis Estok previously reported that more than 130 cats were registered for the last Neuter Scooter Mobile Clinic. Volunteers who are interested can opt to join with the proper requirements. There were already individuals with electric scooters who participated. Interested people are encouraged to get bikes, scooters, or even electric longboards on ScooterAdviser so they can join the cause.
According to the organization’s website, the Neuter Scooter will be in Knox from Friday, June 15th until Monday, June 18th. As a reminder, the exact location of the mobile clinic is not revealed until online registration is completed. Continue reading
