The City of Knox will be picking up disposed Christmas trees on the regular brush pick up day beginning Thursday, January 6th, 2011.
Anyone who wishes to dispose of their natural Christmas tree may do so by putting it at the curb. Make sure all ornaments and tinsel are removed. Residents may also dispose of trees in the City’s compost pile located behind City Hall. The garbage contractors will not pick up disposed natural Christmas trees.
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.
Knox Mayor, Rick Chambers, delivered 233 pounds of food to the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry last week after a food drive at Knox City Hall.
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.
During its meeting Tuesday night, the Knox City Council approved the final payment to close out the rehabilitation project at the Wastewater Treatment Facility. Even with the change orders presented, the total project came in $9,991 under budget. Mike Strang, from Bonar and Associates, said he and Wastewater Superintendent, Kelly Clemons, were happy with the work done by the contracting company, R. E. Crosby.
The Knox City Police are investigating damage done to the Knox Community Center after a Saturday event at the facility. During Tuesday night’s Knox City Council meeting, Clerk-Treasurer, Jeff Houston, told the Council that 112 chairs were damaged, the dance floor was ruined and 25 of the 32 tables were damaged. The carpets were stained and the walls had marks on them.
A big thank you goes out to many people from the Knox Kiwanis Club. President, Todd Wallsmith, was in Wednesday to thank Knox Community Schools, Knox High School teachers, Dean’s Food of Rochester, the Knox Center Township Fire Department Auxiliary, Community Services of Starke County, the SCILL Center, and members of the Kiwanis, among others.
The Knox City Council learned that the budget order came back from the State and the Council will need to cut $71,932 from the 2011 budget. During the Council meeting Tuesday night, Clerk-Treasurer, Jeff Houston, recommended that the Council cut the purchase of a new backhoe that was put in the budget for 2011. That budgeted item was approximately $72,000 and the Council unanimously approved Houston’s recommendation. Houston added that the budget is at the “bare bones” and spending will be tight in 2011. Election costs had to be added to the 2011 budget as well.
Throughout the month, we’ve mentioned the wonderful efforts of local organizations that are lending a helping hand to the less fortunate. Among those organizations is Economy Auto in Knox and the business is conducting a food bank collection.
Knox City Police Department officers arrested Matthew Blount, 23, of Wheatfield and Erica Bailey, 21, of Knox on methamphetamine related charges Wednesday night.
Members of the Knox Student Council, National Honor Society and dedicated volunteers assembled food baskets, Thursday, at the Community Services of Starke County building for the less fortunate families in Knox. Students and members of the Knox Kiwanis Club will distribute food to those families in Knox.
Snow plow workers on the state and local level have been working around the clock to make sure highways and local streets are cleared for safe travel.
Knox Mayor, Rick Chambers, has this request for residents when a snow event is forecast, “It would be a big help if you parked your car in one of the parking lots in the downtown area until the crews are done with street.”
The Knox Kiwanis Club and the Knox School Corporation are teaming up to help families in need this holiday season.
The two organizations are collecting food and/or cash donations to help Knox families. The requests for food baskets are greater than the donations. If you have food that you can donate to these organizations, you may drop it off at the Knox High School Office today or Thursday, or call 772-1670. The students and Kiwanis members will be assembling the food baskets on Thursday and delivering them to families on Friday.
Knox Mayor, Rick Chambers, invites the Knox community to participate in an outdoor Christmas decoration contest.
Knox City Police Chief, Clint Norem, has released the Department’s statistics for the month of November.
The Department had 443 calls, 11 accident reports and 44 incident reports. There were 5 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Reports, 18 people arrested on 21 traffic charges, 36 people arrested on 58 criminal charges, 8 juveniles arrested on various charges and 4 people cited for 4 ordinance violations. 5 battery arrests and 4 warrant arrests were made and 17 drug charges were filed.
Santa Claus is coming to the Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox on Saturday, December 11th from 1:00-2:00 p.m. CT.
Children will listen to a story about Santa, visit with Santa, and receive a treat from Santa. While you are waiting to visit with Santa, join in the Saint Lucia Day celebration. Make a Saint Lucia craft, listen to stories, and enjoy a traditional Saint Lucia treat.
Call the Library to RSVP your visit, (574) 772-7323 and ask for the Children’s Department.
K9 Officer Chad Keen and K9 Marco appeared at the recent Knox City Council meeting. Officer Keen recently finished training with K9 Marco at the Von Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana. Marco detects all types of narcotics and can trackpeople as well. Marco is a two-year-old Belgian Tervuren and met the Knox City Council for the first time at the Council’s meeting on November 23rd. This is the third K9 to be part of the Knox City Police Department.
The final walk-through was done at the Wastewater Treatment Facility to close out the City’s grant for that rehabilitation project. A curb needs to be replaced and then the project will be complete.
The Council also got a tonnage report on the refuse and recycling service from the garbage contractors. In July, 137 tons was the highest amount of refuse collected in 2010. The lowest amount of refuse collected was in January at 83.6 tons. 27.2 tons of recyclable material was collected in July, the most collected in 2010.
The employees of the City of Knox are planning a special fundraiser for the holiday season this year.
“For Christmas, the employees of the City of Knox have decided to forgo the usual gift exchange and to participate in a food drive for the Starke County Food Bank,” said Knox Mayor, Rick Chambers. “All of the employees will make cash donations or will bring food items to the Clerk’s Office for collection. Anyone wanting to assist the Knox City employees in this food drive are asked to drop off your donations or food items at City Hall, in the Clerk’s Office. If you want to make a donation and are unable to make it to City Hall, call Mayor Rick Chambers or any member of the Knox Common Council to schedule a pick up.”
The deadline date to donate food items is Wednesday, December 17th.
A Lake Station store owner is suing the City over an ordinance banning the selling of synthetic marijuana products. The store owner says under the new ordinance, over the half the items in his store could be considered synthetic marijuana.
The U.S. Government is considering a ban on products that mix herbs and synthetic chemicals that mimic marijuana. Government officials say it appears the products are dangerous.
The Knox City Council and the Starke County Commissioners are in the process of banning these products.
