The Starke County Commissioners reviewed information submitted by Starke County Surveyor Bill Crase and Building Inspector Boz Williams about the acquisition of a new truck for Planning Commission purposes.
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The Knox City Council members discussed a revised fee ordinance Tuesday night.
Under Section 1, Article VI, Sec. 4-251. Location improvement permit fees, a commercial/industrial permit for new construction, additions and remodeling will be left at $5,000. In a previous discussion, the members considered an increase to $7,500, but later determined the $5,000 fee was sufficient.
An ordinance amendment will be going back to the drawing board as the Knox City Council members failed to pass it on final action.
Discussion concerning an amendment to ordinance #1142 regarding outdoor storage and the setback distance for displays was the issue that hung up the approval of the ordinance.
The Knox City Council this week tentatively approved the first readings of two ordinances, but expressed their intent to revise those ordinances before passing them on their second or third readings. The council first discussed the revised fees ordinance for the Planning Commission that replaced the entirety of the fees laid out previously.
An ongoing dispute in the city administration for Knox has left one office empty, as former Planning Commissioner Greg Matt was not re-elected to his position. Worse, the Planning Commission and Mayor Rick Chambers are at odds as to who elects the planning commissioner – Chambers said he believes the planning commissioner is a department head appointed by him, but the Planning Commission believes he is an employee appointed by the commission.
North Judson Town Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said she received notification that the Town’s budget has been approved and no cuts were ordered.
The Town Board this week discussed the terms of members on the Board of Zoning Appeals, Planning Commission and the Unsafe Hearing Authority. The members discussed staggering the terms so members with knowledge can help new ones entering into a term. Currently, all terms are up at once and when new members are elected to a board, there is a learning curve and the Town Board feels that if the terms were staggered, some experienced members could help the inductees and have smoother transition.
No decisions were made during the meeting and the information was taken under advisement.
In a unanimous decision by the Pulaski County Commissioners, Pulaski County now has at least some form of zoning regulation now with the Commissioners’ approval of the land-use ordinances and maps as presented by the planning commission.
According to Planning Commission President Don Good, the documents are based primarily on how the land is being used in terms of businesses, cemeteries, residential areas, and agricultural areas. Good also indicated that the land-use ordinances and maps will not require people to go through a lot of “red tape,” but are instead focused on protecting landowners.
The new year brings new appointments to government Boards. Today, the Starke County Commissioners will appoint officers to the Starke Regular Drainage Board, Planning Commission, Kankakee Iroquois Regional Plan Commission, Health Board, Hospital Community Board, Alcoholic Beverage Board, City Plan Commission, Regional Workforce Board, Wage Commission, P.T.A.B.O.A. Board, Innkeepers Tax/Visitors Association Board, and Community Corrections Board. The Commissioners are likely to reorganize as well.
The North Town Board approved the second reading of an ordinance that prohibits the sale of synthetic marijuana during its meeting Monday night. A Public Hearing concerning this ordinance will be held on Monday, January 3rd, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. CT at the North Judson Civic Center. A third and final reading will be approved during the Board’s regular meeting that evening at 6:30 p.m. CT.
