Judges Discuss Potential Cost-Saving Opportunities with Pulaski County Council

As the Pulaski County Council continues exploring potential budget cuts, the county’s judges and chief probation officer had the chance to share their cost-saving ideas Monday. Circuit Court Judge Mary Welker told council members that there’s $50,000 in the commissioners’ budget for detention of children that she doesn’t think will be needed.

Continue reading

Pulaski County Council to Explore Potential Budget Cuts with Courts, Probation Office Tonight

Pulaski County Council: back row: Mike Tiede, Kathi Thompson, Brian Young; front row: Scott Hinkle, Rudy DeSabatine, Jay Sullivan (not pictured: Ken Boswell)

The Pulaski County Council will continue looking for ways to cut expenses tonight. For the past month, the council has been meeting with department heads for preliminary discussions on their 2020 budgets. The goal is to avoid a $2.7 million deficit that’s projected to develop over the coming years. Meeting with the council tonight will be the two courts and Probation Office, according to the Auditor’s Office.

Continue reading

Judges Spar with County Attorney over Pulaski County Court Program Grants

Pulaski County’s judges are worried that resistance from the auditor and county attorney is putting court programs in jeopardy.

In a lengthy and heated discussion during Monday’s county commissioners meeting, Circuit Court Judge Mary Welker said the county’s seen great success with its Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, but when coordinator Dr. Natalie Daily Federer tried to renew its funding, Auditor Laura Wheeler prevented it.

Continue reading

New Pulaski County Facilities Plan Proposes Demolishing Courthouse, Expanding Justice Center

Pulaski County’s 123-year-old courthouse would be torn down and replaced by a parking lot and memorial park, under the county’s latest facilities proposal. During Monday’s joint county council and commissioners meeting, Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston publicly unveiled a four-phase plan designed to address security, ADA compliance, and a number of other concerns with the county’s government buildings.

Continue reading

Pulaski County Courthouse Elevator Tentatively Scheduled to Be Ready for Monday, Despite Delays

Pulaski County officials are hopeful that the courthouse’s new elevator will be ready in time for Monday’s county commissioners meeting, in spite of a last-minute hiccup. Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston says a fire alarm issue means the elevator probably won’t be in service by tomorrow, as previously announced. But the contractor says it should still be ready for Monday, according to Johnston. He adds that crews are working diligently to get it done.

Continue reading

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.

Continue reading

Four Accused of Failure to Report Child Abuse Have Charges Dismissed, Due to ‘Administrative Problem’

Four defendants in a 2016 Pulaski County child abuse case have had their charges dismissed, due to what prosecutors are calling an administrative problem. On December 14, 2016, sheriff’s deputies reportedly found a three-year-old girl locked inside a plywood box in the living room of a home near Denham. Several adults in and around the home were taken into custody.

Continue reading

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.”

Continue reading