Knox City Council Members Sign Annual Nepotism Contracts

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Nepotism contracts were passed out and signed during Tuesday night’s Knox City Council meeting.

Nepotism contracts are signed to prevent any potential conflicts-of-interest from occurring within a municipality. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston informed the council members that during a meeting he recently attended, he was advised to include this on the agenda even though it is an annual procedure.

Houston said there was one document that was passed out and signed to all the present council members. He added that since Councilman Don Kring recently completed some work for the city police department, there was another document only needed his signature. Continue reading →

Knox City Council to Consider Ordinances Pertaining to G.O. Bonds at Tonight’s Meeting

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

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 →

Sen. Arnold Attempts To Remedy Firefighter Nepotism Situation

Posted on Author WKVI
Senator Jim Arnold
Senator Jim Arnold

A bill preventing firefighters from serving on Township Boards was approved in Indiana about two years ago, but State Senator Jim Arnold is trying to exempt firefighters under new legislation.

Senator Arnold has filed a bill that would allow an individual to serve as both a member of a Township Board and a volunteer firefighter. The move comes after many rural areas have been experiencing problems finding individuals to serve in government.
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Nepotism Law May Affect Local Officeholders

Posted on Author WKVI

starke-county-courthouseA state law passed fairly recently may start having implications for elected officials in Starke County.

House Enrolled Act 1005 states that an individual may not hold elected office if they are working, or volunteering, for a fire department providing services to that unit of government. The language may have consequences for several individuals about to serve in county, city, and township government.
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Knox City Council Approves List of Employees Exempt From Nepotism Policy

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

In an effort to adhere to new state policies, the Knox City Council this week entered a list of city employees into the official record. City Attorney David Matsey noted that this is in reference to the newly-required nepotism policies, which requires a list of current employees that are grandfathered in to employment and thus exempt from the new policy.

Mayor Rick Chambers said they had to revise the list nearly a dozen times to keep it up to date and accurate. The list consists of every employee currently employed by the city since before July 1 of this year.

The council in June passed a motion adopting a policy regarding conflicts of interest and nepotism of office, which Matsey said was the first step required to conform to Indiana’s new guidelines. The council adopted the minimum provisions required by state statutes for nepotism, prohibiting a person from supervising a direct relative. Matsey pointed out that the law does not prevent grandparents from supervising grandchildren in office, and it only affects direct supervisors.

Some Starke County Townships Not In Compliance With Nepotism Law

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

The Starke County Commissioners this week heard an update on the county’s compliance with the new statewide nepotism guidelines, and Auditor Kay Chaffins says that they have received letters of compliance from several townships. Unfortunately, the county has not received them from North Bend, Washington, Jackson, and Center townships.

Chaffins says that although the state did not given the county much time to comply, the Department of Local Government Finance can still penalize the county for not being in full compliance. The DLGF can choose not to approve the county’s budget for next year, which can cause a myriad of financial problems.

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Knox City Council Adopts Anti-Nepotism Policy

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council last week passed a motion to adopt a policy regarding conflicts of interest and nepotism in office, a policy required by new state law as of today. City Attorney David Matsey says this is the first step required to conform to Indiana’s new guidelines, and they will next pass a resolution and draft an ordinance reenforcing the policy.

The council adopted the minimum provisions required by state statutes for nepotism, prohibiting a person from supervising a direct relative. Matsey pointed out that the law does not prevent grandparents from supervising grandchildren in office, and it only affects direct supervisors.

The law only applies to future hirings, and Matsey told the council that a list of all employees will need to be made to note employees that are related.

Winamac Town Board Discusses Nepotism Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall

The Winamac Town Board members Monday night discussed how they are going to implement the town’s nepotism ordinance.

The board recently passed a nepotism ordinance that closely mirrors the state’s new law on the subject that will take effect July 1. House Enrolled Act 1005 states that all local government entities must implement and adopt a nepotism policy consistent with the Indiana code.

The town’s policy outlines that after July 1, an individual who is a relative of an existing employee may not be employed by the town in a position that results in one relative being in direct line of supervision of the other relative. Those who already may be employed in this capacity may be grandfathered in after the law takes effect July 1. A relative of an elected official, an individual who works or is appointed to any department or board on any basis, or a member of the fire department and police department will not be approved for employment under this policy.

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Starke County Commissioners Pass Nepotism Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners: Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

The Starke County Commissioners have passed an ordinance that would halt nepotism in hiring in county government. The ordinance was created in part to stop complaints from the public about employees working under direct supervision of a family member. In the ordinance, the definition of relatives was spelled out with 17 listed from father and mother to relatives by adoption.

The ordinance applies to all elected or appointed directors.

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Starke County Commissioners to Draft Nepotism Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners ( L to R ) Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom, Jennifer Davis

Saying they had heard some complaints from the community, the Starke County Commissioners yesterday voted to have County Attorney, Marty Lucas, create a draft of an employee nepotism ordinance. When passed, the ordinance would spell out that no employee could work directly under a relative in any office.

The ordinance will make it clear that no parents, grandparents, spouse, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, or adopted relatives could be given employment where they work directly under, or having reporting responsibilities, to the supervisor or department head.

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