The Starke County EMS staff is trying out a new program that acts as a live radio streaming device, according to EMS Director Travis Clary.
“Basically, this turns your smartphone or any other thing into a live radio streaming device,” said Clary. “It’s great for off-duty members, especially with a size like ours with mainly part-time people. They can hear the call live. It’s pretty neat and again it’s just a trial thing. We’re just seeing how it works with our IT Department.”
The Starke County Commissioners are attempting to complete their appointments for the year.
At the last meeting, the commissioners appointed Todd Leinbach to the Board of Zoning Appeals, but he doesn’t reside in the proper jurisdiction. He actually lives in the incorporated town of Hamlet and the person appointed must live in an unincorporated area of the county. The commissioners voted to rescind his appointment. Instead, Leinbach was appointed to an opening on the P.E.T.A.B.O.A. Board. Continue reading
Starke County Building Inspector Terry Stephenson asked the commissioners for permission to hire a code enforcement officer.
Stephenson told the commissioners that he needs someone to help with investigating code and ordinance violations and “help clean up the county”.
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department will have a third K9 unit.
Sheriff Bill Dulin asked the Starke County Commissioners for permission to officially approve the addition to the department Monday night.
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin presented the county commissioners with a proposed job description for an employee at the Starke County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff previously explained that he hired Ron Lawson as a part-time jailer but he doesn’t necessarily do the duties of a jailer. He hired him in that position because the wage was at a higher rate. Lawson has 34 years of law enforcement experience and the sheriff believed that Lawson should be paid a higher wage because of his experience.
The Starke County Commissioners will meet tonight where Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin will discuss a job description for a part-time employee and request approval of a third K9 for the department. The job description was discussed with the Starke County Council members in January after they learned an employee was doing duties outside of the position for which he was hired. The job description should resolve the issue.
A lack of action on concrete repairs at the Bass Lake Beach is drawing concerns from some Starke County Park Board members. Back in August, board members asked the operator of the facility, Callahan Development, LLC, to repair the seawall surrounding the beach house patio and install glacial stone to help protect it from incoming waves.
The Starke County Park Board is moving forward with the replacement of the gate house at the Bass Lake Beach. The structure was seriously damaged when a pickup truck reportedly crashed into it back in November. Starke County Building Inspector Terry Stephenson believes the accident, along with wood rot and the settling of concrete, has left the building unsafe.
The Starke County Election Board is finalizing the move of the Oregon Township Precinct 2 voting site. Starting this May, voting will take place at the Koontz Lake Association Clubhouse.
Ideas for operating the Bass Lake Beach are being sought by the Starke County Park Board. Board members decided Tuesday to issue a request for proposals from businesses or individuals interested in managing the beach area, the beach house, or both.
The Starke County Council members made several appointments to boards and commissions when they met this week.
The council reorganized with a change in leadership. Brad Hazelton was elected as council president and Dave Pearman retained as council vice president. Freddie Baker opted to step down from leading the council. He held the position in 2016 and 2017.
The Starke County Community Corrections, in partnership with the Starke County Probation Department and the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, are working to submit a grant request for programs and funding.
Community Corrections Director Robert Hinojosa said this is the ninth year of requesting funding for community corrections and the second year for jail treatment programs and pretrial funding.
Starke County may soon have two more paramedics on staff.
EMS Director Travis Clary and Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie discussed the need for two full-time paramedics with both the Starke County Council and Starke County Commission members Tuesday night. They explained that it is difficult to find part-time paramedics to work for the county and it’s even harder to get part-time people to work shifts when a full-time paramedic is not able to work a shift. Clary said he’s been picking up extra shifts to fill the void.
The issue concerning the removal of flags on veteran’s graves at the Round Lake Cemetery has been resolved.
Mark Gourley, acting as American Legion District Vice Commander, told the Starke County Commissioners last week that he sat in during the Round Lake Cemetery Association meeting on Monday, Jan. 8 and the action of placing and removing American flags on veteran’s graves at Round Lake Cemetery will now be handled by the Knox American Legion Post #131.
The Starke County Council members will meet for the first time in 2018 tonight at 6 p.m. CT where the reorganization of the council is planned and 2018 appointments will be filled.
The Starke County EMS Department is working to get the heat installed at the Grovertown EMS base.
EMS Director Travis Clary told the Starke County Commissioners last week that some parts were needed to install a ceiling-mounted heater at the base. The heater was purchased as an emergency need at the end of 2017 as medications were freezing while the ambulance was parked in the unheated garage. Clary noted that the heater was to be installed last week.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners on Monday that it was an eventful, snowy end to 2017.
“We had 14 plow events in December,” said Ritzler. “We’ve had 9.7 inches of show which is less than last year in November and December. Plow hours so far total 1,800. We’ve cleared 35,193 miles. That’s at 18.72 mph.”
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.
