Starke, Pulaski Counties Lift Burn Bans

Posted on Author WKVI

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.

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Starke County Burn Ban To Be Reevaluated Today

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners will discuss the burn ban during their regular meeting this morning at 9 a.m. The current ban expires today.

Despite the ban, the county’s fireworks celebration will proceed as scheduled. Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem confirmed that the event will be held at the Starke County Airport on Wednesday, July 4, regardless of the status of the ban.

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Unsold Starke County Properties To Go To Tax Sale

Posted on Author WKVI

All Starke County properties not sold in the spring tax sale will be offered in a commissioners online certificate sale beginning Thursday, July 5 at 10 a.m.

Visit SRI-taxsale.com, select Starke County and then property list to search the available properties. To place a bid, follow the instructions on the website. The winning bidder, or lien buyer, has certain rights and responsibilities, including the completion of the required legal actions to secure a tax deed after the one year redemption period.

Over 100 properties are listed in the sale that begins Thursday, July 5 and ends Monday, July 16 at 10 a.m.

Judge Still Undecided In Case Between Belork, Starke Commissioners

Posted on Author WKVI
Linda Belork

Jasper Circuit Court Judge John Potter has yet to make his decision regarding the case between former Starke County Treasurer Linda Belork and the Starke County Commissioners. The attorney for the Starke County Commissioners and the attorney for Linda Belork and Ohio Casualty appeared before the judge on June 6 and presented evidence supporting their cases.

The attorney for the commissioners, Martin Lucas, told the judge that the commissioners were faced with a serious problem: $900,000 was reportedly misappropriated in the treasurer’s office, according to the State Board of Accounts. He said the commissioners acted according to statute in removing her from office and filing suit against her bond.

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Starke County Council Approves Save The Hospital Funds For Facility Study

Posted on Author WKVI
David Pearman

The Starke County Council in a super-majority vote this week approved an amendment to the Save the Hospital Fund that would allow up to $50,000 to be used on a study that would assess the value of the property and operations of IU Health Starke Hospital. IU Health La Porte has been in a lease agreement with the county, but has expressed interest in purchasing the facility.

“We’re going to select a consultant with specific expertise and knowledge in this type of release,” said Council President David Pearman. “It has to be a similar situation where a county has decided to get out of the hospital business.”

Pearman expressed his opinion at this week’s meeting that it is probably better if the county gets out of the healthcare business.

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Starke County Officials Discuss Housing Prisoners in Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

Starke County government officials this week discussed finances as they apply to county jail inmates being housed at the Pulaski County Jail.

With the Starke County Jail being rated for only 62 prisoners and the population approaching 80 at times, Commissioner Kathy Norem and Sheriff Oscar Cowen have been looking at ways to solve the problem – but that takes extra funds to pay Pulaski County and transport the prisoners back and forth.

Council President David Pearman explained that this is the most cost-effective solution they have found so far.

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Starke County Commissioners Discuss Insurance Increase

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners discussed briefly the commissioners’ budget that is currently being prepared. Commission President Kathy Norem says there are some expected increases.

“The thing that we did take a look at Monday night, and we have difficulty predicting because we don’t get those numbers until five or six months after the budget process, is the employee health insurance. I’m aware that we’ve had some large claims this year so we elected to put in for a 15 percent increase in that,” Norem said.

Although the budget increase is 15 percent, Norem said the county’s First Source Insurance representative thinks it may be lower.

Burn Ban Issued in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

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.

Starke County Sheriff Requests Three New Police Cars

Posted on Author WKVI
Sheriff Oscar Cowen
Sheriff Oscar Cowen

Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen has informed the county commissioners that he is in need of three new cars.

Commission President Kathy Norem asked Cowen to come back with actual quotes, a listing of the current fleet with years in service, and their current mileage.

She also asked Cowen to look at trucks, stating they “have better resale value.”

Sheriff’s Department Handbook To Be Discussed By Starke Commissioners, Sheriff

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen

The Starke County Commissioners have scheduled a work session Monday afternoon to revise the Sheriff’s Department Handbook and to review the recommendations proposed to codify the county’s ordinances.

The Sheriff’s Department Handbook was discussed at this week’s commissioners meeting when Sheriff Oscar Cowen asked for directions on employee vacation time. Because of different shift requirements – some officers working eight hours and others on duty for 12 – vacation time is difficult to compute.

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Jasper Circuit Court Judge Hears Misappropriation Case; No Decision Yet

Posted on Author WKVI
Linda Belork

The attorney for the Starke County Commissioners, as well as the attorney for Linda Belork and Ohio Casualty, appeared before Judge John Potter in Jasper Circuit Court yesterday. Attorney Martin Lucas, representing the commissioners, and Ethan Lowe, representing Linda Belork and Ohio Casualty, presented evidence supporting their case to the Judge. Both attorneys were given 30 minutes and were occasionally interrupted by the judge with questions.

Lucas painted the picture of a board of commissioners faced with a report from the State Board of Accounts stating that $900,000 was misappropriated in the treasurer’s office, and the commissioners acted according to statute by removing her from office and filing suit against her bond. He also stated that Belork was consistently late with her monthly 47-TR forms.

“When she finally delivered them to the commissioners, they were not useful because the numbers didn’t add up,” Lucas said.

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Belork, Starke Commissioners To Appear In Jasper Circuit Court Wednesday

Posted on Author WKVI
Linda Belork

The Starke County Commissioners and Linda Belork will be back in Jasper Circuit Court Wednesday June 6 at 9 a.m. Judge John Potter will hear oral arguments in the case that involves Belork’s removal from the treasurer’s office in August of last year. At the time it was announced that there was a discrepancy in funds in the office. Although the discrepancy was ultimately cleared up, Belork was never returned to the office as treasurer.

The key issue in the case in Rensselaer is whether the commissioners acted correctly under statute in removing Belork from office.

Affidavits of people with knowledge of the case will be presented.

It’s not known whether Judge Potter will render an opinion Wednesday or if he will take the information received under advisement and give his opinion at a later date.

Starke County Commissioners To Receive Bridge Update

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners will hear from Highway Commissioner Steve Siddall on the progress of bridge repair projects today.

Siddall said Friday that Bridge #9, located at 700 North and 500 East, is scheduled to be open within two weeks. The deck floor has been poured, with completion of the approaches and guardrail installation remaining.

Bridge #62 is probably five weeks behind #9 in being completed. Siddall said the end bents have been poured already. The bridge is located at Range Road and 500 East.

Finally, the commissioners will hear from the engineering firm contracted to provide services on the repair of Bridge #51 today.

Starke Commissioners Agree To Trade Deal With Howard Coffin

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners this week agreed on language in a contract between Howard Coffin and the county. In the agreement, Coffin would provide services – such as providing equipment to rescue and haul overturned trucks belonging to the highway department – and in return, Coffin would receive the funds from the sale of scrap metal.

The contract would be for the remainder of the 2012 year and would then be reviewed. If the “trade” agreement is found to be out of balance, the county might hire Coffin outright for providing his equipment and selling the scrap itself.

In other business, the commissioners approved courthouse tours to take place during Harvest Days, and they have announced that they are looking for a person who lives in the two-mile jurisdiction of Knox to apply for the Knox City Planning Commission.

Starke County Workman Compensation Insurance To Increase

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners: Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

The Starke County Commissioners have been informed that the Workman Compensation Insurance for the county is increasing from $103,000 a year to $137,000. Ideas to keep the cost to employees the same or lower were discussed at this week’s board meeting.

Suggestions included forming a Safety Committee, setting up a procedure whereby workers would be required to return early to do light work, and establishing a fund to pay claims of less than $100.

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Starke County Commissioners Praise Late Bill Schacht

Posted on Author WKVI

Calling him a “great public servant,” the Starke County Commissioners praised the service given to the county by the late Bill Schacht this week. Schacht served for many years as a member of the county’s Drainage Board.

Commissioner Dan Bridegroom said, “He taught me more about drainage than anyone could have, and I appreciate everything he told me. He will be greatly missed.”

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Public Hearing Held Regarding IU Health Starke Hospital Sale

Posted on Author WKVI
IU Health Starke Hospital

The public hearing regarding the possibility of selling IU Health Starke Hospital to IU Health La Porte was held yesterday evening, and a number of questions were answered regarding the sale. Several concerned citizens, including some hospital board members, were present at the meeting with questions.

The county officials discussed a possible amendment of the county ordinance restricting the use of the proceeds from the lease of Starke Memorial Hospital dated October 1, 1996. The amendment would authorize the use of up to $50,000 in Save the Hospital Funds to be used to hire a consultant to evaluate the hospital’s real and personal property.

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Public Encouraged To Voice Hospital Concerns and Questions At Public Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
IU Health Starke Hospital

Starke County Council President Dave Pearman encourages the public to attend the public hearing of the County Council and Commissioners on Monday, May 14, at the Starke County Annex Building.

The county officials will discuss the possible amendment of the county ordinance restricting the use of the proceeds from the lease of Starke Memorial Hospital dated October 1st, 1996. The amendment would authorize the use of up to $50,000 in Save the Hospital Funds to be used to hire a consultant to evaluate the hospital’s real and personal property. Starke County Council President, Dave Pearman, said you are encouraged to attend this public hearing to ask questions and voice concerns.

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Starke County Bridge 34 To Be Replaced With Culvert

Posted on Author WKVI
Steve Siddall

The Starke County Commissioners heard more bridge news from Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall, who informed them that Bridge 34 will have to be removed from the county inventory and replaced with a culvert.

Siddall says that repairing the bridge, which he described as “shot,” would cost roughly $340,000– a hefty price tag for the county that is currently sinking available funds into more time-critical projects. He said the bridge could instead be removed and replaced with a culvert at an estimated cost of $20,000, saving the county over $300,000.

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Starke County Commissioners Hear Concern About Highland Cemetery

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners: Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

The Starke County Commissioners this week discussed a request regarding a new entrance at the Highland Cemetery. Officials at the cemetery have expressed their desire to open a section of the fence near County Road 300 West to add an additional entrance and exit.

The town of North Judson will cover the cost of the entrance, which was actually in use many years ago, but has since become overgrown and blocked off with a chain. The town wishes to cut down the growth and remove the chain, allowing vehicles to use the path.

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