A special executive meeting was held Friday for the Pulaski County Commissioners to discuss policy violations with two department heads that have not been following the employee handbook.
Both elected and appointed department heads have not been following the handbook, which outlines rules and procedures for employees to follow, providing across-the-board rules that apply to all employees.
Jim McDaniels of the Arens Field Airport told the commissioners this week that the runway is in need of maintenance. He says that Broken Arrow usually performs the work but when McDaniels asked for an estimate, he says the cost was extremely high. He approached the commissioners in search of a solution.
One recommendation was to have the county highway department rent a piece of equipment called an asphalt tar kettle, which is used to resurface roads and runways. Unfortunately, the question remains: who’s going to pay for it?
The Starke County Commissioners approved a motion repealing the county-wide burn ban on Monday, putting an end to the ban that lasted three weeks, from June 18 to July 2. Storms that had tore through the area last weekend had brought moisture back to the parched summer weather, alleviating some concern of fires caused by the dry conditions.
North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Chief Joe Leszek discouraged the commissioners from lifting the ban so soon, but the commissioners were also pressured by others to lift the ban in light of the recent rains. A motion was approved to lift the ban with the possibility of reinstatement in the future, and Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem says they will carefully monitor the situation in case conditions worsen.
The Pulaski County Commissioners received an update yesterday regarding the status of the Bridge 291 project. Jeff Larrison of United Consulting told the commissioners that the right-of-ways have been cleared through INDOT, and the necessary documents have been submitted, however, INDOT has pushed several projects back to October.
Larrison said that the county has met all the deadlines, but they have to play by INDOT’s rules – which means opening bids for construction of the new bridge will not take place until October, setting them back several months. Larrison explained that after the bid is let, there is a 30 – 45 day period to choose a winning bid, which means construction could be delayed to as late as November.
Because of this delay, Larrison says a minimal amount of construction will take place before winter, but the majority of the work will take place come spring.
The Pulaski County Commissioners have continued the burn ban for another seven days in light of continued drought conditions and a lack of rain in the forecast.
The ban has been in place since noon on Monday, June 18, and it will remain in effect until noon on July 2, when it will once again be reevaluated. The commissioners enacted the ban because of the dry conditions of this summer, and they feel the county is at risk of a widespread fire hazard. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible materials is prohibited, with the exception of grills. Also prohibited is the burning of debris such as timber of vegetation, and recreational campfires – unless enclosed – are prohibited as well.
Pulaski County residents are also strongly discouraged from discharging fireworks.
Starke County’s burn ban is also still in effect until July 2, when they will also reevaluate the ban and decide whether or not to allow it to expire. Marshall County residents are also under burning restrictions.
The Pulaski County Commissioners will be reevaluating the county’s burn ban today, which has been in effect since noon on Monday, June 18 and remains in effect until noon today.
The commissioners determined that Pulaski County is at risk of a widespread fire hazard because of the ongoing drought conditions. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible material, with the exception of grills, is prohibited. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation and recreational campfires – unless enclosed – is prohibited.
The commissioners also strongly ask that you not discharge any fireworks.
Starke County also remains under a burn ban. The Starke County Commissioners will reevaluate conditions on Saturday, July 2 when the emergency ban is expected to expire. Marshall County residents are also under burn restrictions.
Pulaski County Highway Superintendent Kenny Becker told the county commissioners this week that since the department has received a new trailer, they would like to sell some other items they have gathering dust.
Becker said they would like to sell an old dump truck, the old trailer that they had replaced, a Dodge pickup truck with transmission problems, and a 1975 T500 that they have been unable to find parts for. He said he feels selling the items would be best, since there is no sense in the items just taking up space.
Terri Hansen of the Pulaski County Health Department and Animal Control Officer Debra Tiede approached the county commissioners this week with an urgent message to county residents. Hansen says the number of calls concerning bats that have managed to get inside peoples’ homes has increased this year, with three bats submitted for rabies testing within the last five weeks.
She says it’s not yet time to panic, but it is time for people to become educated about the risk of being bitten by an infected bat. Hansen encourages people to close up their chimneys and fireplaces when they are not in use to prevent bats from entering the home.
Starke County is the latest county to enact a burn ban. The action was taken last night by the County Commissioners and will be in effect through July 2nd.
The ban does not include fireworks, although the commissioners ask that you set off fireworks with extreme caution.
The Pulaski County Commissioners have declared a county-wide burn ban effective until June 25th.
Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible material, with the exception of grills, is prohibited. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation and recreational campfires, unless enclosed, is also prohibited.
The Pulaski County Commissioners ask that you NOT discharge any fireworks.
This ban is in effect until Noon ET on Monday, June 25th when conditions will be reevaluated.
Marshall County also remains under a burn ban.
The Pulaski County Commissioners have declared a county-wide burn ban effective now until June 25th.
Pulaski County is at risk of widespread fire hazard because of the ongoing drought conditions. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible material, with the exception of grills, is prohibited. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation and recreational campfires, unless enclosed, is prohibited.
Pulaski County Maintenance Director Morry Demarco approached the commissioners this week with two bids on necessary repairs for the courthouse clock tower. Demarco says he has used Alpha Omega Company before for work on the justice center and other buildings, and both companies that submitted bids have experience in this type of repair.
He says it’s very important that the work be done right. Because of the age of the structure, the mortar must be replaced with a similar mix to prevent any damage to the delicate bricks. According to Demarco, the tower is in need of being re-tuckpointed to reapply mortar between the bricks with an estimated repair time of up to four weeks.
The commissioners requested that Demarco contact other companies capable of doing the work to see if he can get more than two bids for the repair, and he can make his recommendation, hopefully, at the next meeting.
The Pulaski County Commissioners this week received another update on the Bridge 291 project, in which Jeff Larrison of United Consulting informed them that the next step in the process is to approve the construction inspection agreement. He says the agreement will go to the Indiana Department of Transportation, which will then review the rates for inspection and approve them if acceptable.
As with the rest of the project, 80 percent of this expense would be covered by INDOT, while the county would cover the other 20 percent. The cost of $194,800 for the inspection makes up 12.5 percent of the total construction cost as allotted by INDOT.
Farmers in Pulaski County once again voiced their outrage to a previously-drafted ordinance prohibiting the spray of water from irrigation system end-guns onto roads. The concerned residents filled the county commissioners’ meeting room in the courthouse on Monday to express their opposition to the ordinance, which they claim is detrimental to their livelihood and singles out farmers.
The ordinance was originally drafted by the commissioners because of complaints from irritated taxpayers who had driven beneath a stream of water from irrigation systems. More than one person complained that they had been driving a motorcycle or convertible and had gotten drenched from the water spraying onto the road, and the commissioners felt that the ordinance was necessary to prevent an accident in the future.
In an effort to make it easier on their vehicles, Pulaski County EMA Director Larry Hoover requested a ramp be installed in front of the museum garage in which they park their equipment.
County Maintenance Director Morry Demarco told the commissioners this week that Hoover approached him and asked about the possibility of installing the ramp, and Demarco said his department could handle the effort but would require permission from the commissioners to proceed. Demarco said a pipe would need to be installed beneath the ramp to allow water to flow through, but the installation of the ramp would allow vehicles to park in the garage without having to climb over an eight-inch curb.
Commissioner Mike Tiede asked if Demarco could use bridge planks instead of concrete to save money, and Demarco said he will check into it. He also said he will look into the possibility of dumping rock near the curb and coating it in asphalt as an easier solution.
Pulaski County Maintenance Director Morry Demarco told the commissioners this week that with each toll of the Pulaski County Courthouse bell, mortar crumbles from between the bricks, and he is anxious to get the bell tower fixed.
Demarco says that he’d like to get the bid awarded and have the tower fixed as soon as possible to prevent any further damage, but because of a large variance in the prices of the bids presented, the commissioners requested that he speak with the bidders to ensure they understand the scope of work.
The bid prices ranged from as low as $7000 to as high as $16,000, and Demarco said that he will speak to the bidders and have them break down their prices. He says it’s very important that the work be done right. Because of the age of the structure, the mortar must be replaced with a similar mix to prevent any damage to the delicate bricks.
More than 50 farmers and community members attended Monday’s meeting of the Pulaski County Commissioners to voice their opposition to a drafted ordinance preventing irrigation systems from spraying on the road.
The commissioners had the ordinance drafted after receiving a number of complaints from drivers who claimed to have been sprayed heavily by irrigation systems while traveling on motorcycles or in convertibles, and Commissioner Kenneth Boswell said they were being proactive with this ordinance to prevent high-pressure sprays from causing any traffic accidents.
Pulaski County employees who are responsible for driving county-owned vehicles will soon have an added incentive to stay away from drugs and alcohol, as the commissioners this week authorized Cathy Fritz of Cathy Fritz Consulting to draft a drug testing policy to ensure the county meets federal guidelines for employees operating their vehicles.
Fritz told the commissioners she would charge $150 for a 30-page policy which conforms to the strict guidelines in place by the Department of Transportation regarding drug testing. She warned the commissioners that the county would be subject to audit to ensure they are in accordance with their guidelines, but did say that it is unlikely unless an accident were to occur.
Jeff Larrison of United Consulting gave the Pulaski County Commissioners an update on the Bridge 291 project.
According to Larrison, INDOT will issue credit for up to 50 percent of the county’s 20 percent match for the project, bringing back $345,000 to the county. Larrison also told the commissioners that they will have to pay some of that money to businesses that have to move because of the bridge construction, including $8400 for reestablishment of the business and up to $13,000 for moving expenses, as some businesses have heavy equipment that must be moved. The business owners will have to submit invoices to ensure the money is spent correctly.
Pulaski County Human Services Director Jackie Frain recently approached the county commissioners humbly requesting funds to keep the organization afloat. Frain says that another budget cut is on its way in July, and they’re already struggling to stay above water. She said that her oganization has not requested money from the commissioners in eight years because they were previously able to raise funds and receive grants to cover what shortfalls they had, but with the additional budget cut on its way down, she fears the worst.
A $3,000 repair bill for a pickup truck was approved by the Pulaski County Commissioners this week for the county recycling center. According to Recycling Center Director Ed Clark, the Dodge truck’s motor needed rebuilt and he presented three bids for the repair.
The bids each came with three-year warranties for the motor, but the commissioners chose the lowest bid from Allen’s Automotive with the help of Offroad Power Products. The $3,160 expense was approved and will be paid from the recycling center’s equipment repair fund, pending council approval.
