Work could begin this week on the renovations to the former Starke County Jail and the courthouse. The Starke County Commissioners and Building Corporation are meeting jointly at 6 p.m. to accept, approve and award pricing bids for the projects. They were opened during last week’s county commissioners meeting and taken under advisement. Continue reading
Ambulance Repairs Plague Starke County EMS
Starke County EMS has struggled with ambulance repairs over the past month, according to Director Keith Emigh. He told the county commissioners Tuesday the truck based at Grovertown had to be towed to Jim Dobson Ford in Winamac after the cooler went out. The engine was recently replaced, and the repair is covered under the warranty. Continue reading
Starke County Park Board Gets Strategic Plan Seed Money
The Starke County Park Board will soon be able to move forward with the development of a strategic plan following action this week by the county commissioners. Continue reading
Starke County Realizes Savings on Bridge Replacement
The low bid to replace the bridge on 1150 East just south of State Road 10 in Starke County came in significantly under budget. Continue reading
Courthouse and Old Jail Renovations to Start Soon
The Starke County Commissioners are preparing for the start of renovations to the courthouse and former jail building. Bids for the work were opened last night and will be awarded during a special-called meeting next week. Meanwhile, the prosecutor’s office and the coroner’s office are moving out of the old jail so demolition work can begin immediately. The Starke County Health Department and Purdue Extension are also relocating from the first floor of the courthouse. Continue reading
Commissioners to Open Renovation Bids, Discuss CAFO Ordinance
The Starke County Commissioners will have a better idea of how much the renovations to the old jail and courthouse will cost after their meeting tonight. The first item on the agenda for their 6 p.m. meeting is the opening of bids for the work. They will be taken under advisement and awarded during a special-called meeting next week. Continue reading
Starke County Reaps Benefits of Fewer Worker’s Compensation Claims
Starke County is poised to save 11 percent on insurance premiums over last year. Carrie Block from First Choice Insurance in North Judson told the county commissioners Monday the decline is mostly due to fewer workman’s compensation claims over the past three years. Overall the county will save $52,435, as premiums dropped from $473,982 to $421,547 for 2016-17. Continue reading
Starke Hospital Lease Negotiations Continuing
The Starke County Commissioners have reluctantly agreed to another 30 day extension of the Starke Hospital lease. The county owns the property and building at the corner of Culver Road and South Heaton Street, but the hospital is managed by Tennessee-based Community Health Systems. Their plans are to build a new hospital on the site and tear the current building down once it’s complete. Continue reading
Starke Commissioners to Discuss Hospital Lease, Insurance Tonight
The Starke County Commissioners will meet in special session this evening to take care of a couple of time-sensitive items. Another extension of the lease between the county and operators of Starke Hospital is required in order to finalize a new agreement between the entities. Continue reading
Starke County Officials Announce Budget Adoption Schedule
The Starke County Council and Commissioners will conduct budget workshops Monday morning. The meetings at the county annex building are open to the public, but times for individual department heads have not yet been determined. Sessions get under way at 8 a.m. Continue reading
Hospital Lease Review Meetings Postponed Amid Continuing Negotiations
The meetings tentatively scheduled for next week to outline the scope of the proposed Starke Hospital lease are on hold. Continue reading
Courthouse and Jail Renovations to Restrict Downtown Knox Parking
The Starke County Commissioners took action this week to prepare for the renovation of the old jail and courthouse. Work will be starting soon, and the contractors will need a place to park their construction trailers and equipment. Continue reading
Starke County’s Oldest Bridge to Be Replaced With a Culvert
The Starke County Highway Department is poised to save more than $300,000 by contracting out the replacement of a bridge with a culvert. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners Monday night the bridge on 900 South half a mile west of U.S. 421 is the lowest rated in the county. Continue reading
Starke Council to Review Levy and Circuit Breaker Limits
The Starke County Council is preparing for budget season. Tonight’s meeting agenda includes a review of the levy limits and circuit breakers for county taxing entities. The levy is the cap on the amount of property taxes each is allowed to collect. The circuit breaker limits the amount of property taxes an individual pays. Continue reading
Starke Hospital CEO Discusses New Building
Starke Hospital officials are putting the final touches on an agreement with the county for a new lease of the existing building at the intersection of Culver Road and South Heaton Street in Knox. A joint meeting between the Starke County Council and Commissioners, hospital board and Starke Hospital officials is scheduled Aug. 29th. Starke Hospital CEO Craig Felty says it clears the way for construction of a new hospital on the site. Continue reading
Starke Commissioners Authorize Renovation Bid Process
The contractor in charge of the Starke County Courthouse and old jail renovation project is ready to issue construction documents for bid in hopes of wrapping that process up within the month. The commissioners Monday night authorized DLZ to proceed with that process after reviewing the proposed scope of work. Continue reading
County Officials Finalizing Starke Hospital Lease Negotiations
The Starke County Commissioners are close to finalizing an agreement with the new owners of Starke Hospital to clear the way for construction of a new building. The county owns the current structure at the corner of Heaton Street and Culver Road in Knox and the land on which is sits, but the hospital is operated by Tennessee-based Community Health Systems. Continue reading
Courthouse Renovation Plans, Costs on Starke County Commissioners Agenda
The Starke County Commissioners will have a better idea of the scope of renovations to two county buildings after their meeting tonight. Representatives from architectural firm DLZ and contractor Skillman Corporation will share final design plans for the revamped courthouse and renovated former jail. They will also provide a breakdown of costs for the work. Continue reading
Safety Upgrades Underway at Bass Lake Beach and Campground
The Bass Lake Beach and Campground is getting some upgrades, after an inspection from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management turned up a few violations. The property is owned by Starke County and leased to operator Richard Callahan. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners Award Bridge Bid
The low bid to replace a bridge over Bogus Run in Starke County came in $35,000 under estimates, according to Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler. The county received four bids for the project on 250 West south of Toto Road. They were opened during Monday night’s commissioners meeting. Continue reading
