Starke County officials hope that recent upgrades to the County Forest will help attract new visitors. County Park Board members and Community Foundation representatives joined Forester Bruce Wakeland, Commissioner Kathy Norem, and several others Wednesday afternoon, to cut the ribbon on the forest’s upgraded access road.
Starke County Park Board May Apply for Grant Funds to Help Prevent Bass Lake Shoreline Erosion
The Starke County Park Board may consider applying for grant funding to help prevent erosion at the Bass Lake shoreline. Board member Debbie Mix and a small group of local residents recently met with representatives from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to get some ideas.
UPDATED: Ribbon Cutting Planned for Starke County Forest Upgrades
Starke County officials will soon have a chance to show off the recent improvements to the County Forest. The County Highway Department recently upgraded the old access trail into a gravel road with a 10-to-12-car parking lot.
Bid Opening for Starke County Courthouse Elevator Project Moved to Next Week
The bid opening for the Starke County Courthouse elevator project has been moved to Wednesday, July 18th, according to County Commissioner Kathy Norem. Continue reading
No Bids Received for Starke County Courthouse Elevator Project
The Starke County Commissioners scheduled another bid opening process for the Starke County Courthouse elevator project as no bids were submitted before the deadline of Thursday, May 31.
Funds Created for Starke County Park Board Grant Funds
With the acquisition of thousands of dollars worth of grants for projects at the Starke County Forest and the Bass Lake Beach, Starke County Auditor Kay Chaffins suggested the creation of two line items within the budget for those funds.
The park board was recently awarded $15,000 from the Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund and $5,000 in a Community Support Grant.
Starke County Budget Approved
Starke County Auditor Kay Chaffins recently received the budget order for 2018. Starke County was the 82nd county out of the 92 counties in the state to receive this year’s budget.
Chaffins stated last week that that there were no cuts expected in this year’s budget.
Candidates Begin Filing for 2018 Elections
The first day of candidate filing ended with a few contested races in Starke County. District 2 County Commissioner Don Binkley has filed to run for reelection. He faces opposition from county council member Bryan Cavender. Meanwhile, Dale Conley and Howard A. Bailey Jr. have both filed for the County Council District 2 seat.
Starke County Seeks Veterans’ Service Officer
The Starke County Commissioners have hired a new Information Technology Director, but by doing so have created a vacancy in another department. Continue reading
Starke Commissioners Recommend Funding Source for New Ambulance
The Starke County Commissioners have recommended a funding source for a new ambulance, and now it’s up to the county council to act. EMS Director Keith Emigh says the trucks in his fleet range from 1998 with a 1988 box to a problem-free 2013 rig with 58,000 miles. A 2003 ambulance with 167,000 miles and a 2009 truck with a history of mechanical problems round out the fleet.
Council Approves Jail Money After Lengthy Discission
The Starke County Council last week approved funds transfers necessary to shore up the jail operating budget through the end of the year.
During the discussion prior to the vote, Sheriff Bill Dulin was asked why the county has a separate jail warden and jail commander. Continue reading
Starke County Officials Struggle With Jail Budget
Starke County officials are looking at short and long-term ways to shore up operating expenses at the new jail. It has been open for about a year, and budgeted operating costs were based on an actuarial study done for the county. Information shared during last night’s joint meeting of the council and commissioners indicates those recommendations may have been based on flawed information. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners Considering Additional Budget Cuts
The Starke County Commissioners have taken a number of cost saving measures under advisement. The county has already cut more $566,000 in expenditures from the 2016 budget per orders from the state. One concern raised during the budget review process was a lack of money in the county’s cash balance. Auditor Kay Chaffins presented a list of possible cuts to the commissioners Monday evening aimed at shoring those funds up. Continue reading
Deep Starke County Budget Cuts Anticipated Today
The Starke County Council and Commissioners have less than two weeks to slash half a million dollars from the 2016 budget. They’re meeting jointly today at 3 p.m. to begin that task. Continue reading
Starke County Officials Brace for Budget Cuts
Starke County officials need to slash half a million dollars from the county’s 2016 budget after receiving their final report from the state. Continue reading
Starke County Council Prepares For Budget Planning
Starke County department heads will soon begin work on their annual budgets for the upcoming year. Auditor Kay Chaffins says preliminary budgets need to be submitted to the state Department of Local Government Finance by the end of June. This will be the first budget session for Sheriff Bill Dulin and Clerk Vicki Cooley, both of whom were elected last fall and took office in January. Continue reading
State Approves Starke County Budgets
The State Department of Local Government Finance has approved the Starke County General Fund budget as presented. Auditor Kay Chaffins shared that news with the county commissioners Monday evening. She says the 100-percent approval is a testament to the hard work done by the county council and department heads to hold the line on spending. Continue reading
Starke County EMS Director Submits Resignation
Starke County will soon have a new EMS director. The county commissioners last night accepted Paul Matthewson’s resignation from that job, effective July 1st. He plans to remain with the county as a part-time paramedic. Continue reading
Starke County Tax Sale Raises Nearly $300,000
Counties to Receive Thousands, Millions from Found Money
The Department of Revenue Commissioner, John Eckart, has resigned after state officials found $205 million in local option income tax money owed to counties wasn’t distributed. State Budget Director, Adam Horst, blamed the problem on a programming error.
The problem with distribution of the local income tax money comes months after the state found $320 million in corporate taxes that were collected over four years but not transferred to the state’s general fund.
