Linda Belork’s Hearing is Today in Jasper County

Posted on Author WKVI
Linda Belork

A hearing will be held in Jasper County today on Linda Belork’s request to have a court-imposed Temporary Restraining Order removed allowing her to return to her duties as the Starke County Treasurer. Belork has been out of the office since August 13th after being removed by the County Commissioners following the issuance of a State Audit showing thousands of dollars in discrepancies.

The money has been found, but Belork has been blocked by the order from returning to office. Objecting to her return are the Starke County Commissioners. Judge John Potter will be seeking pertinent information from Belork’s attorney, Ethan Lowe, and Martin Lucas, attorney for the commissioners, during today’s hearing.

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Starke County Commissioners Hears Zoning Issue

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

Betty Dotlich, of rural Grovertown, appeared before the Starke County Commissioners again this week seeking information and assistance in halting the use of a structure she claims is improperly zoned. Dotlich has sought help several time in having a home owned by Julia Povalitis properly zoned, saying she doesn’t believe it meets minimum residential standards. Dotlich said it appears that it is still being used for housing.

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Starke County Commissioners Seek Applications for Boards

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

The Starke County Commissioners are asking for the submission of letters of interest for 2012 board appointments.

The Commissioners are asking you to consider apply for seats on the following boards: Starke County Drainage Board, KIRPC, Health Board, North Judson-Wayne Township Library Board, Aviation Board, Hospital Community Board, Alcoholic Beverage Board, Regional Workforce Board, P.T.A.B.O.A. Board, and Community Corrections Board.

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State Law Allows Bidded Projects to be Done by County Employees

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

Starke County Commission President Dan Bridegroom recently informed his fellow commissioners and the public that a new state law will allow county workers to do county work that was previously bid out.

The jobs done by the county workers cannot exceed $100,000 and the workers must demonstrate the skills and training to do the work.

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Starke County Commissioners Continue to Block Linda Belork’s Return to Office

Posted on Author WKVI

Linda Belork
Jasper County Circuit Court Judge John D. Potter has set Dec. 22 as the hearing date on a motion to dismiss a temporary restraining order preventing Linda Belork from gaining back the treasurer’s position in Starke County. Belork has been out of office since being removed by the commissioners on Aug. 13. Acting as plaintiffs in the case are the Starke County Commissioners.

Potter set the date yesterday in Jasper County Court. The suit has been venued to Jasper County from Starke County after Judge Kim Hall recused himself from hearing the case.

Although bookkeeping errors in the treasurer’s office were eventually identified, the commissioners have continued to block her resumption of duties. Last week an interim treasurer, Kasey Clark, was selected by the Democrat County Precinct Committee. On Monday, the commissioners affirmed that Clark would receive full treasurer’s pay as long as she is in charge of the office.

If Belork is eventually successful in the Jasper County suit, Clark will be required to step down.

Starke County Commissioners Approve Purchase of Ambulance

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners are gearing up for the future needs of the EMS service in the county by considering the purchase of a new ambulance, or two quality used rigs. At a recent meeting, Commissioner Kathy Norem announced that because $250,000 is left from health insurance savings she would like to spend a portion of the money on ambulances and equipment for Advanced Life Service needs.

Councilman David Pearman commented on the issue that when county begins making ALS runs, that is going to open up a new revenue source, but at the same time there will be more activity for the rigs. Pearman also noted that there are many municipalities that are privatizing their ambulance service, so there as some quality used rigs available if they can just be found.

Commissioner Dan Bridegroom said that the ambulances the county currently owns need to be thoroughly checked for issues, but it’s hard to take them out of service to do so. Another issue is that with the older rigs, parts are not always available.

A motion was made to seek the transfer of the money for the purchase of the new rig or two used ones by Commissioner Jennifer Davis. The motion was approved unanimously.

IU Health Starke Hospital Working Group Discusses Capital Needs

Posted on Author WKVI

IU Health Starke Hospital
The working group selected to discuss the sale of I.U. Health Starke Hospital to I.U. Health LaPorte met recently. Representing Starke County on the committee are Commission President Dan Bridegroom, Council President Mark Smith, and Councilmen David Pearman, Marvin McLaughlin, and Tony Radkiewicz. Hospital Community Board members Ben Bennett, Dr. Walter Fritz, and Sandy Hansen are also on the committee.

I.U. Health LaPorte is the lessee of the local facility, and according to David Hiatt, who explained the offer to local officials in October, five to seven million dollars in capital needs are required at the hospital.

“We have significant needs that must be addressed now before we start planning for the long-term facility, or what is going to happen long-term,” said Hiatt.

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Starke County Ordinance Review Complete

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners heard this week that the codification of all county ordinances is about to be completed. The commissioners were notified that of the 180 ordinances reviewed by Municiple Code Corporation of Tallahassee, Florida, 121 were removed.

A review of the Plan Commission ordinances is still being conducted.

In all, the review cost the county approximately $15,000 but the ordinances will soon be listed on a website that will be constructed by MCC. The website, it is promised, will be easy to navigate by both county officials and the public.

Deputy Auditor Suzanne McCarty assisted with the project.

Annual County Building Safety Inspection Completed

Posted on Author WKVI

The annual inspection to identify and correct life safety issues at four Starke County buildings has been completed. The inspection, conducted by Simplex Company of South Bend, found minor fire extinguisher, automatic sprinkler, and emergency lighting problems. Those problems were corrected, bringing the buildings up to code.

The highest cost for any of the corrections was $1016 at the highway department, where all trucks have been outfitted with fire extinguishers.

Other buildings inspected include the jail, courthouse, and annex building.

Catastrophic Insurance Approved for Starke County Inmates

Posted on Author WKVI

Bridgett Markin of First Source Insurance and Sheriff Oscar Cowen came before the Starke County Commissioners yesterday to present an inmate catastrophic insurance proposal. By not having such a policy, the county was responsible for all catastrophic expenses incurred by inmates while incarcerated.

The policy selected came with $250,000 maximum coverage and $10,000 deductible. Sheriff Cowen said that many Indiana counties have this type of policy.

In the end, the commissioners voted unanimously to purchase the policy that costs $17,500 annually.

Two Candidates have Filed for Tonight’s Democratic Caucus

Posted on Author WKVI

Two candidates are seeking the opportunity to fill the Starke County Interim Treasurer’s position in tonight’s Democrat Caucus. The appointed person will fill the term of Linda Belork until a Jasper County Court settles a suit between her and the Starke County Commissioners. If Belork wins the court case, she will reclaim the office and the caucus winner will vacate the position. If Belork loses the suit, the caucus winner will automatically have the Interim designation removed from her title, and the candidate will become the Treasurer.

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Starke County Commissioners Approve Purchase of Second Car for Sheriff’s Department

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen asked the Starke County Commissioners for a second new police car this year. Cowen told the Commissioners that an insurance check for a wrecked vehicle has been received.

“I don’t know the exact number but it was over $8,000,” said Cowen. “I had asked once to buy a used car to replace but then I said just hang on to money and hopefully with that we have enough money to look toward our second new car this year.”

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Linda Belork’s Attorney Files Challenge to Thursday Night’s Caucus

Posted on Author WKVI
Linda Belork

The attorney for Linda Belork has notified Starke County Democrat Chairman, Kenny Wallace, that he, on behalf of his client, is challenging the right of the party to hold a caucus Thursday night, December 1st to name a new Starke County Treasurer.

Belork was removed from office by county officials in August when a State Board of Accounts report noted funding discrepancies totaling thousands of dollars. Those discrepancies eventually were resolved, but Belork was never reinstated to the office.

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Starke County Commissioners Pass Nepotism Ordinance

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

The Starke County Commissioners have passed an ordinance that would halt nepotism in hiring in county government. The ordinance was created in part to stop complaints from the public about employees working under direct supervision of a family member. In the ordinance, the definition of relatives was spelled out with 17 listed from father and mother to relatives by adoption.

The ordinance applies to all elected or appointed directors.

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Starke County Commissioners to Hear from Skillman Corporation Representative about Jail Construction

Posted on Author WKVI

A representative of Skillman Corporation out of Merrillville will be in attendance at the Starke County Commissioners meeting tonight. After listening to a presentation from Scott Cherry last week, the Starke County Jail Committee voted to invite him to the Commissioners’ meeting to discuss jail construction and remodeling. Cherry oversees all operations from the Merrillville office.

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Insurance for Starke County Employees to go up Next Year

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

Miguel Salazar, from First Source Insurance, appeared before the Starke County Commissioners this week to bring them up-to-date on health insurance costs for 2012. Even though premiums are going up, Salazar pointed out how employees can reduce their co-pay by accumulating wellness points.

Salazar pointed out the importance for the employees maximizing their total points to reduce their premium.

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Starke County Commissioners to Draft Nepotism Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners ( L to R ) Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom, Jennifer Davis

Saying they had heard some complaints from the community, the Starke County Commissioners yesterday voted to have County Attorney, Marty Lucas, create a draft of an employee nepotism ordinance. When passed, the ordinance would spell out that no employee could work directly under a relative in any office.

The ordinance will make it clear that no parents, grandparents, spouse, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, or adopted relatives could be given employment where they work directly under, or having reporting responsibilities, to the supervisor or department head.

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Starke County Councilwoman Defends Treasurer in Audit

Posted on Author WKVI
Linda Belork

Starke County Councilwoman, Judy Benninghoff, still believes that the errors reported in the Treasurer’s office by the State Board of Accounts are actually errors in the Auditor’s office. In a release to WKVI, Benninghoff said that is backed up by an official in the State Board of Accounts.

“I called the State Board of Accounts and I spoke to Debbie Gibson, and she told me that the paragraph that was inserted in the Treasurer’s audit had nothing to do with the Treasurer,” said Benninghoff. “That pertained only to the Auditor. So, where it says that ‘beginning in March 2010 and continuing through 2011, there was a failure to post the entries pertaining to the remittance of various payroll withholdings’, that was true. That withholding fund is with the Auditor’s office, not in the Treasurer’s office.”

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Starke County Commissioners to Decide on Snow Emergency Policy for County Employees

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

The Starke County Commissioners are trying to decide on a snow emergency policy involving employee pay if the county is under a no travel order due to snowy conditions. The Courthouse had to close once in December of 2010 and again in January of this year because the county roads were closed due to snow. A funding mechanism was in place through the state and federal governments where the county could get funding to make the roads passable if an emergency is declared in the county.

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Starke County Treasurer’s Books almost Balanced

Posted on Author WKVI
Linda Belork

The discrepancies in the Treasurer’s office have almost been solved. It was reported at this week’s Starke County Commissioners meeting that the Treasurer’s balance, and bank balance were in sync within pennies. The figures came from the monthly 47TR report given to the commissioners.

“The 47TR form is basically the form that compares our Treasurer’s balance to the bank balance to the Auditor’s balance,” explained Commission President, Dan Bridegroom. “The Auditor’s balance will be somewhat different than the Treasurer’s because of how the funds are received. In the bottom line, that form out of the Treasurer’s Office should balance with our bank. That is where we had the huge discrepancy of almost $900,000 and that’s what led us to where we are today. As of Tuesday of last week, the Auditor, Kay Chaffins, and Casey in the Treasurer’s Office have got that down to somewhere around $.33 and they will find that portion of that also.”

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