The Starke County Commissioners will consider amendments to the confined animal feeding ordinance fee schedule when they meet this evening. The Starke County Plan Commission recently approved a flat $500 flat permit, along with a $75 filing fee to offset the cost of processing the application. They also doubled the re-inspection fee to $100 for all permits. It will be charged when the county is called out to conduct an inspection, but the work is deemed to be incomplete. Continue reading
New Pumps Ordered for Lift Station That Services Jail
New pumps have been ordered to replace the two that failed earlier this month at the east Highway 8 lift station. Knox Wastewater Superintendent Kelly Clemons blames commissary trash from the jail that inmates flush down the toilets for the problems they’ve been having since the facility opened last summer. Continue reading
City and County Officials Clash Over Jail Commissary Trash
Commissary items being flushed down the toilets at the Starke County Jail are causing problems for the Knox Wastewater Department. Superintendent Kelly Clemons told the county commissioners Monday night the city has lost two pumps since Sept. 6th due to trash like razors, toothbrushes and elastic underwear bands getting into the lines. Continue reading
Recent Rain Tests Knox Wastewater Treatment Plant
Employees at the Knox Wastewater Treatment Plant put in quite a bit of overtime during last week’s torrential downpour. Superintendent Kelly Clemons says it brought in 8.2 inches of rain in less than 24 hours. Of that, more than 7 inches fell between 5:30 and 11:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 15. Clemons told the board of works Wednesday employees spent the night at the plant to ensure everything was operating properly. Continue reading
Knox Board of Works Transfers Lift Station Ownership
The new lift station in the Knox Industrial Park is now the responsibility of the business for which it was added. The Knox Board of Works last week formally transferred ownership to Traffic Control Specialists, Inc. Continue reading
Knox Officials Struggle With Sump Pumps
Sump pumps are creating an issue for the Knox Wastewater Department. Superintendent Kelly Clemons told the board of works last week the plant treats an average of 300,000 gallons of water per day in dry weather. She says amount more than doubles when it rains due to the number of gutters, catch basins and sump pumps tied into the sanitary sewer system. Continue reading
Disposable Wipes Causing Problems for Knox Wastwater Department
The City of Knox may need to change out a pump at the lift station near the industrial park soon due to items being flushed down toilets and clogging the lines. Continue reading
Knox Council to Discuss Utility Rates
Knox residents may soon see an increase in their water and sewer rates. The city council recently commissioned a rate study and plans to discuss findings when they meet this evening at 7. Continue reading
Knox Officials Prepare for Transition
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers has instructed city department heads to develop priority lists for the new administration. Dennis Estok is set to take over as mayor on Jan. 1.
He will decide what to do about two vehicles the city no longer uses. One is a Chevrolet Tahoe with a motor problem, and the other is a 2009 Ford Crown Victoria patrol car with transmission issues. The recent purchase of a new Dodge Charger for the Knox Police Department means it can be retired from the fleet. Continue reading
Knox Sewer System Requires Expensive Upgrades
The City of Knox wastewater treatment system needs some costly upgrades to address aging infrastructure. Superintendent Kelly Clemons told the board of works this week a sewer main that broke near the White House Motel a few weeks ago is 80 years old. Crews patched it together, but that’s not considered a long-term fix. Continue reading
Sump Pumps Create Work for Knox Wastewater Department
The City of Knox Wastewater Treatment Plant is getting quite a workout as a result of recent rains. Superintendent Kelly Clemons told the board of works they are processing an additional 500,000 gallons of water per day on average. Continue reading
Be Mindful of What You Flush into the Wastewater System
Knox Wastewater Superintendent Kelly Clemons explained to the Knox Board of Public Works last week that the staff has been handing out pamphlets explaining what can and can not be flushed into the sewer system.
The wastewater collection system can not handle some items and it does cause great wear and tear on the equipment. Clemons noted that disposable baby wipes, shop towels, sanitary and cleaning products, plus oil and grease are causing blockages in sewer lines and lift station pumps. These products can also cause blockages in pipes inside your home.
Uniform Policy for Knox City Wastewater Workers to Change
The Knox Wastewater Superintendent provided the city council with a proposed uniform change.
The workers at the wastewater treatment facility are among contaminants and a host of bacteria while on the job. Those materials get on their clothes and the workers proceed to wear those clothes home to their families and into stores when running errands which is not the healthiest option.
Part-Time Water Superintendent Named
To date, Mayor Rick Chambers has been unable to fill the Water Superintendent position with the city, so this week he told the Knox City Council members that he has come to an agreement with a part-time person.
“His name is Bob Johnson, and he lives just over the Marshall County line near Koontz Lake,” reported Mayor Chambers. “He will come in five days a week and take the water samples. Since I’ve been unable to find a Superintendent, Gordon Burger has filled in, but he wants to be done by the end of March.”
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