Pulaski County is looking for a new manager for its Recycling & Transfer Station. Brad Bonnell stepped down last week citing health reasons, according to County Commissioner Chuck Mellon. During Monday’s meeting, the commissioners accepted Bonnell’s resignation and appointed John Kegarise as interim manager.
Continue readingPulaski County Council Narrowly Approves $18.6 Million Budget for 2022
Pulaski County’s 2022 budget was narrowly adopted by the county council Monday. The nearly $18.6 million budget passed by a vote of four-to-three, with Rudy DeSabatine, Tim Overmyer, and Mike Tiede opposing. Monday’s vote came after four special meetings, where council members ultimately trimmed the proposal by about $675,000.
Continue readingPulaski County Commissioners Approve $20,000 Ambulance Repair
The Pulaski County Commissioners have chosen the more expensive option for repairing one of the EMS Department’s ambulances. Rather than spending less than $13,000 just to fix the head gaskets, they approved EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo’s recommendation to replace the entire engine for about $20,000.
Continue readingProposal to Privatize Pulaski County Transfer Station Met with Concern from Solid Waste District
A Pulaski County Council member wants to look into privatizing the county’s Recycling and Transfer Station. Rudy DeSabatine told the county commissioners Monday that it costs the county thousands of dollars a year to operate the facility, and he wants to talk to a potential operator about selling or leasing it.
Continue readingPulaski Council Narrowly Approves another Procedural Step for Justice Center Project
The Pulaski County Justice Center expansion project is about to begin, as the county council continues to approve the procedural steps by the narrowest of margins. Last month, the council voted four-to-three to issue up to $5.6 million worth of bonds.
Continue readingPulaski EMS Reduces Hospital Transfer Radius, Raising Concern from Doctors
Pulaski County EMS is no longer taking hospital transfers to Fort Wayne or Indianapolis. The county commissioners voted last week to reduce the transfer radius from 100 miles to 65.
Continue readingPulaski Council Finalizes EMS Pay Raise, Allows Returning Full-Time Employee to Keep Seniority
A longtime Pulaski County EMS employee is being recognized for her years of service. Stephanie Foust was presented with a plaque by EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo during Monday’s county council meeting. “I’d like to publicly thank you for 10 years of service with Pulaski County EMS,” DeLorenzo said, “and I hope I have 10 more.”
Continue readingPulaski Council Finalizes Revised Justice Center Bond Ordinance amid Rising Costs
The Pulaski County Council has narrowly decided to move ahead with a revised bond ordinance for the Justice Center project, as costs continue to increase. The ordinance letting the county borrow up to $5.6 million without the involvement of the county auditor passed Monday by a vote of four-to-three.
Continue readingPulaski Council Narrowly Approves First Reading of Revised Justice Center Bond Ordinance
The Pulaski County Justice Center project will be able to keep moving ahead, following action by the county council Monday. Council members passed a revised bond ordinance on first reading by a vote of four-to-three.
Continue readingPulaski Council Votes Down Change to Seniority Calculations, EMS Wage Restructuring Delayed
Pulaski County EMS staff may have to wait a bit longer for a pay raise, after county officials failed to put the proposed salary matrix amendments into writing by Monday’s county council meeting. Last month, the council voted to take up EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo’s proposed wage restructuring.
Continue readingAviation Board President Voices Opposition to Selling Arens Field
The idea of selling or leasing Arens Field is drawing opposition from its board of aviation commissioners. Board President Jeremy Wegner refuted claims that the publicly-owned airport simply subsidizes people with private jets and crop dusters, during this month’s joint Pulaski County Council and Commissioners meeting. “I think it’s more than that,” he said. “It’s open to everyone.”
Continue readingPulaski County Council Decides to Hold Off on Reestablishing Cumulative Capital Development Fund
Pulaski County will have to cut spending out of its Cumulative Capital Development Fund, as the county council tries to avoid overburdening property taxpayers. Auditor Laura Wheeler recently told council members that its revenues can’t sustain its expenses for the long-term.
Continue readingJustice Center Bond Ordinance Presented to Pulaski County Council
Plans are moving ahead to issue bonds for the expansion of the Pulaski County Justice Center, while county officials continue discussing the planned renovation of the courthouse.
Continue readingPulaski Council Votes Down Request to Move Part-Time Court Employee to Full-Time
The debate over Circuit Court staffing continued during last month’s joint Pulaski County Council and Commissioners meeting. Judge Mary Welker once again asked for a part-time staff member to be moved to full-time status.
Continue readingPulaski County Officials Express Interest in Selling Arens Field
Some Pulaski County officials are open to the idea of privatizing Arens Field, but there would be a number of obstacles that would have to be overcome before that could happen.
Continue readingPulaski County Maintenance Director Resigns, As Restructuring Discussions Continue
As Pulaski County officials consider restructuring the county’s Maintenance Department, its current director is stepping down. The resignation of Mia Salyers was accepted by the county commissioners Friday. She’d served as maintenance director for the past two years.
Continue readingPulaski County Council Finalizes More than $1 Million in Additional Appropriations
The Pulaski County Council finalized over a million dollars in additional appropriations Monday, but not without a debate on funding for COVID-19 response. The county’s Incident Management Team asked for almost $48,000, the amount that was left unspent from last year’s $100,000 additional appropriation. But with only about $2,400 actually being spent on PPE last year, Council Member Rudy DeSabatine wasn’t comfortable approving the entire request at once.
Continue readingPulaski County Leaders Split on Need for Workforce Study
Pulaski County leaders remain split on the need for an outside analysis of the county government’s pay scales and staffing. Accounting firm Baker Tilly has offered to do the first phase of the study for $30,000, about a $5,000 decrease from last year’s proposal, according to Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer.
Continue readingBoswell Narrowly Retained As Pulaski County Council President
The Pulaski County Council narrowly decided to keep the same president for another year. Ken Boswell was reelected to the position last week by a vote of four-to-three, over Rudy DeSabatine. DeSabatine was then nominated for another year as vice-president, but was defeated by new council member Adam Loehmer, also by a vote of four-to-three.
Continue readingPulaski County Council Members Express Support for Project Construction Manager Recommendation
Pulaski County Council members are joining in recommending Tonn & Blank Construction to oversee the Courthouse renovation and Justice Center expansion projects, but not without a lengthy discussion on a proposed work release facility.
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