New Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Dealing with Unfinished Paperwork, IT Challenges

New Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Mary Welker has a bit of organizing to do, as she settles into her new position. She told the county commissioners Monday that Judge Michael Shurn appears to have left behind some unfinished paperwork when he left office. “There’s 300 to 400 files that are waiting on orders, and I think everybody knows that that was an issue. And as judge, I have two choices. I can just give those files to Judge Shurn and say he has to do them, or our staff can do them, make sure they get done, make sure they get signed, make sure they get filed, and I think that’s the only appropriate way to deal with it because there’s 300 or 400 of them.”

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Pulaski Commissioners to Discuss Campaign Sign Regulations, Open Paving, Dump Truck Bids

Pulaski County Commissioners: Mike McClure, Jerry Locke, Kenny Becker

The Pulaski County Commissioners will once again consider repealing the county’s campaign sign regulations when they meet this morning. The commissioners and the advisory plan commission have been discussing removing the “special signs” portion of the county’s Unified Development Ordinance since April, since election board members felt there were already enough rules at the state and federal level.

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Building Renovation Plans to be Presented during Tonight’s Pulaski Council, Commissioners Meeting

More details about proposed renovations to Pulaski County’s government offices are expected to be revealed during tonight’s joint county council and commissioners meeting. Back in October, Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston unveiled a plan to improve the accessibility, security, efficiency, and usability of the county’s buildings, all within a three-year period. He said the plan would include a security checkpoint at the courthouse, full ADA compliance, and a 50-to-75-percent reduction in utility costs.

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Pulaski County Commissioners to Hear from Outgoing Circuit Court Judge, EMS Director Tonight

Pulaski County Commissioners: Mike McClure, Jerry Locke, Kenny Becker

Two Pulaski County officials will discuss their upcoming departures with the county commissioners tonight. EMS Director Bryan Corn is scheduled to discuss his resignation. He announced his intention to resign last month, but his resignation hasn’t formally been accepted by the commissioners yet. Meanwhile, outgoing Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn will discuss some end of term items.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Agree to Let Judge Shurn Keep Cell Phone Number, Email Address

Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn will be allowed to keep his county-issued email address and cell phone number once he retires at the end of the year. The county commissioners approved the arrangement Monday, on the condition that Shurn cover all the associated costs in the future. Commissioner Kenny Becker said the county’s IT director will have to work on separating Shurn’s phone and email from the county’s billing.

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Pulaski County Commissioners to Vote on Commercial Wind Turbine Ban Tonight

Pulaski County Commissioners: Mike McClure, Jerry Locke, Kenny Becker

The Pulaski County Commissioners will decide tonight whether to ban commercial wind turbines. The updated wind turbine regulations head back to the commissioners tonight, after the county’s advisory plan commission agreed last week to some language adjustments the commissioners had recommended. Under the updated proposal, landowners would still be allowed to build noncommercial and micro wind energy convergence systems in certain areas.

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State May Be Looking to Crack Down on Courthouse Security, Judge Tells Pulaski Council

If Pulaski County doesn’t take action to secure its court system, the state may decide to step in. That’s what Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn told the county council Monday. “The Supreme Court promulgates what we call administrative rules,” he explained. “Security’s always been in the administrative rules. And they had a committee that suggested ‘should’ in some of the stuff. And the board which controls all of the judges sent to the Supreme Court the rule I gave you, which was created by the committee, again, with revisions, and it said ‘It shall,’ not ‘should.’”

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Pulaski Commissioners to Discuss Proposed Wind Turbine Ban, Coroner’s Fees Tonight

Pulaski County Commissioners: Mike McClure, Jerry Locke, Kenny Becker

A potential ban on wind turbines will be considered by the Pulaski County Commissioners tonight. The county’s advisory plan commission recently recommended banning wind energy convergence systems, over concerns about the safety and welfare of the community, flicker issues, and local fire departments’ ability to provide fire protection to the structures.

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Pulaski County Council Approves Budget Transfer to Help Cover Circuit Court Overtime Costs

Overtime costs continue to add up for Pulaski Circuit Court. The Pulaski County Council voted Monday to transfer $5,000 into the court’s overtime budget from the law books line item, at the request of Judge Michael Shurn. “Last week, a two-day jury trial morphed into a four-day one,” he explained. “And I was working 16-hour days, and my staff was real close to that.”

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Pulaski County to Reactivate Security Committee, Following Proposal to Move Circuit Court

Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn discusses the proposed relocation of circuit court with the county commissioners.

Discussions about moving Pulaski Circuit Court into the Justice Center are drawing complaints from Judge Michael Shurn. During Monday’s county commissioners meeting, Shurn complained that he hasn’t been included in recent discussions. “I never see it on the docket, but yet I read about it in the newspaper,” he said. “You’re trying to decide what security is, and you’re trying to decide the future of the Circuit Court. You know, I think it would behoove you all to actually involve the Circuit Court in that conversation. I’m sort of shocked that you don’t do that.”

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Pulaski Superior Court Faces Budget Shortfall for Pauper Counsel, Following Uptick in Cases

An increasing number of court cases in Pulaski County has led to some challenges when it comes to providing legal representation for those who can’t afford it. Superior Court Judge Crystal Brucker Kocher told the county council and commissioners Monday that the number of criminal filings increased from 715 in 2015 to 1,295 in 2017. During that same period, the number of felony and misdemeanor cases rose from 351 to 672.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Seeking Members for Community Corrections Advisory Board

Pulaski County Commissioners: Mike McClure, Jerry Locke, Kenny Becker

Cass-Pulaski Community Corrections needs some Pulaski County residents to serve on its advisory board. Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn told the county commissioners last week there are several openings to be filled, in order to reach equal representation from both counties.

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