The North Judson Town Council will hold a public hearing for the budget tonight at 6 p.m. CT in the community center. If anyone has any comment on the 2015 budget, those remarks will be heard during that time.
Open House Scheduled for New Maintenance Building in North Judson
The North Judson Town Council announced that the new town maintenance building is complete. An open house for the public to visit the new building is scheduled Thursday Sept. 25th from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at 710 Railroad Street.
In other news from North Judson, lightning from the Aug. 21st storm caused some damage at the water, police and town office buildings. Some equipment needs to be replaced, and that information will be turned in to the town’s insurance company. Town Marshal Doug Vessely also submitted quotes to replace computers in the police vehicles. Of the $4,430 cost $2000 will come from the police training account and $2,430 will come from the rainy day fund. The council also approved a purchase order for the park to remove seven trees and stumps for a total of $1,400.
North Judson Town Maintenance Building Nearing Completion
he North Judson Town Council members held discussion on a number of topics during their Monday meeting.
Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann told the council members the new maintenance building should be completed by the end of the month. The project was to be complete a few months ago, but the weather and other unforeseen circumstances delayed the start of the project until late March. The town employees have been working on the building’s interior.
North Judson Town Council Accepts Building Donation
North Judson will soon have a new town hall. First Farmers Bank and Trust has offered their former bank building and properties on Lane Street as a donation to the town. The council voted unanimously to accept that offer Monday night. Continue reading
North Judson Council Sets Budget Workshop
Members of the North Judson Town Council will meet Thursday, July 31 at 8 a.m. at the community center to work on the 2015 budget. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says that meeting is open to the public. The initial hearing on the spending proposal will take place Monday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. at the community center. A final adoption date has not been set yet pending a non-binding review by the Starke County Council. That’s new this year and will take place sometime in October. Starke County is part of a pilot program for that process.
North Judson Town Council Approves Purchase of Fire Truck
The North Judson Town Council members approved the purchase of a new fire truck for the North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department.
According to Fire Chief Joe Leszek, the department will be purchasing a used KME pumper truck with a five-man cab. The truck will be the first truck out on structure fires and auto accidents.
North Judson Town Council Finalizing Social Media Policy
The North Judson Town Council is expected to vote on a social media policy for employees when they meet on Monday, May 19. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry tells WKVI News it’s a new addition to the employee handbook. Councilman Tim Cummins has been working to revise and update it. The changes are mostly clarifications of things like how vacation time is earned. Once the policy is adopted, the handbook will be reprinted and given to town employees.
The council is also revising the contractors permit ordinance, with a first reading set for their mid-month meeting. They also acknowledged the park board’s recent hiring of Bill Hemphill as the seasonal caretaker for the town park. Town council members also set Aug. 9 as the date for this year’s town-wide yard sale. Henry says more information about permits and other requirements will be provided closer to that date. The exterior of the new maintenance building is finished, and the interior should be complete by the end of the month.
North Judson Town Council Modifies Unsafe Building Ordinance
North Judson Council Sets Public Hearing for Town Garage Project
The North Judson Town Council has opted for a lease-purchase arrangement to build a new town garage. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says they’re working with First Farmers Bank and Trust on the financing for the project. Town officials previously obtained the 50 necessary signatures in support of the project. The next step is to hold a public hearing. It’s scheduled Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 8 a.m. at the North Judson Community Center.
North Judson Council Approves HVAC Replacement Quote
The North Judson Police Station and Civic Center will soon have a new heating and air conditioning unit. The town council received two quotes to replace the existing unit and awarded the job to Jackson Refrigeration. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says their price of $5,684.92 was the lower. That unit will be replaced soon.
North Judson Town Council Approves Readings of Mowing, Yard Sale Ordinances
The North Judson Town Council members approved the first reading of an amended mowing ordinance Monday night.
The ordinance states that any grass, weeds or natural growth on any yard or lot shall not exceed eight inches in height. If a homeowner or renter allows the growth to exceed a height of eight inches, a citation will be issued. A notification will be sent to first time violators that gives them a time period of 10 days to mow the property. If compliance is not made within that time, town crews will perform the mowing and a lien in the amount of $250 will be placed against the owner’s property. A homeowner/renter will be sent only one notice per season. For second and additional violations per season, notice will be provided per Indiana Code.
Schedule of Fees Ordinance Discussed by North Judson Town Council
North Judson Town Council Approves Purchases for Waste Water Treatment Plant
The purchase orders came out to $115 each for 16 cylinders of chlorine and $129 each for nine cylinders of sulfur, for a total of $3001. The council unanimously approved the purchases.
North Judson Town Council Praised for Norwayne Field Lights
Starke County Commissioner Jennifer Davis attended the most recent meeting of the North Judson Town Council to express, on behalf of the commissioners, their thanks to the North Judson Park Board, Council, and anyone else that had anything to do with the Christmas light display at Norwayne Field. Davis said the lights were spectacular and a fine representation of the community and Starke County.
North Judson Town Council Approves End-Of-Year Transfers
The North Judson Town Council met Monday morning for a very short agenda. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained the council met to review two resolutions concerning fund transfers that needed to be addressed before the end of the year.
Henry said some of the funds transferred within the general fund totaled $7900.32, and $2348.21 within the Motor Vehicle Highway fund. The council also made a number of transfers within the Parks Fund totaling $2662.97.
Leaf Pickup for North Judson To Begin Next Month
North Judson Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann told the town council this week that brush pickup has been completed for the town, and leaf pickup efforts will begin around Nov. 1. He said that’s just a preliminary date and depending on when the leaves start dropping at a steady rate, the date could change.
North Judson Water Towers Need Maintenance, Says Supt.
The North Judson Town Council this week received a report from Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann, who informed them that the water tower inspections have been completed for both water towers in town. He said that although he is currently waiting on the final report, a number of maintenance issues will eventually need corrected. However, Horstmann explained that until they receive that final report, they will not know how much the repairs will cost. He will present the council with an update when he receives the final report.
Horstmann also told the council that he is currently reviewing a number of local streets that may be in need of paving this season. He said he is currently gathering quotes on paving the roads, and he will present a final list of roads to be paved and an estimated cost on that in the future.
Golf Cart Ordinance Almost Official in North Judson
The town of North Judson’s golf cart ordinance is nearly solidified after the town council this week approved its first and second readings. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said two people in the audience expressed their objections to a part of the ordinance requiring child restraints.
Henry said the ordinance will require a safety restraint be used by any golf cart passengers that weigh less than 48 pounds, and two people objected to that requirement. The council noted their objections but proceeded to approve the first of two readings of the ordinance.
No Smoking On North Judson Town Property
The town of North Judson’s no-tobacco ordinance is now in effect, prohibiting smoking or any other form of tobacco use in municipal buildings or properties, including parks. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the ordinance prohibits smoking and tobacco use on the premises of municipal properties or within eight feet of their entrances.
The ordinance also prohibits smoking in town parks and their park shelters or within 15 feet of the shelters.
The North Judson Town Council held the first and second readings of the no-tobacco ordinance at their meeting on Aug. 20, and Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the council held the final reading on the ordinance at their meeting on Sept. 4.
The ordinance is more restrictive than the state’s Smoke Free Air Law, but only applies to municipal properties.
North Judson Town Council Reviews Proposed Golf Cart Ordinance
The North Judson Town Council continued their discussion this week regarding the proposed golf cart ordinance. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained that this seems to be a rather hot topic between communities, as Marshall County and several other communities have recently passed golf cart ordinances restricting their use.
However, Henry says that the ordinance they have in mind defers to the state law on most points, but does allow golf carts to be operated on municipal streets. Henry says the operators of the golf carts must be licensed and have insurance coverage on the vehicle, and it will also need to be registered with the clerk-treasurer’s office.
Councilman Tim Cummins presented a draft copy of the proposed ordinance to the council this week, and provided copies for audience members interested in reading it. The council will review the draft and note any necessary revisions, and Henry says it’s likely they will have their first and second readings of the ordinance at their next meeting on Sept. 17. However, if there are several revisions necessary, the readings may be postponed until the following meeting.
