The Starke County Council members will meet tonight where they will consider a request from Sheriff Bill Dulin about the creation of new funds based on home rule local funds. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler will present a request for a CEDIT appropriation and the council will also receive an update from Coroner Jack Rosa, a discussion on personnel with Clerk Bernadette Welter Manuel, and consider a transfer request from the 2018 commissioner’s budget.
Continue readingUPDATED: Starke County Park Board Meeting Canceled
Update: Tonight’s Starke County Park Board meeting has been canceled due to weather. The next regularly-scheduled meeting is Tuesday, March 12.
The Starke County Park Board will meet tonight for the first time in more than five months. It will be the first meeting for new member Rik Ritzler, who was appointed by the county council last month. Ritzler previously worked with the park board on various projects, in his capacity as county highway superintendent.
Continue readingSheriff Asks Starke County Council for Merit Board Pay Increase
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin asked the Starke County Council members this week for an increase in pay for the Merit Board members out of sheriff’s budget.
Continue readingStarke County Council Unable to Give Raises to Employees in 2019
After all of the work was done to cut about $833,800 from the 2019 budget, the Starke County Council found that they are unable to give raises to county employees this year.
Continue readingStarke County Council Reorganizes, Makes Appointments
The Starke County Council members reorganized on Tuesday night and made several appointments to county boards and commissions.
Continue readingStarke County Council, Commissioners to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Council members will meet tonight where they will organize and review the newly approved code of conduct for all council members. Three new council members will attend their first meeting since being elected. Howard Bailey Jr. and Tom DeCola were elected to their seats in the November General Election while Kay Gudeman was selected in a Republican Party caucus to fill the unexpired term of Bryan Cavendar who was elected as a Starke County Commissioner in the November election. They join Dave Pearman and Brad Hazelton who were reelected in the General Election and At-Large members Freddie Baker and Bob Sims.
Continue readingStarke County Republican Caucus Held to Fill County Council Seat
The Starke County Republican Central Committee held a caucus on Saturday to fill the unexpired term of Bryan Cavendar who held the Starke County Council At-Large seat. He was elected District 2 Starke County Commissioner in the November General Election.
Continue readingStarke County Councilman-Elect Questioned about Residency
The residency of Starke County Republican Councilman-Elect Tom DeCola is in question after the issue was raised during the Starke County Council meeting.
DeCola was elected as the Starke County Council District 4 representative in the General Election gathering 84 votes more than his opponent Democrat Karen Tibbs.
Starke County Council Discusses Budget Cuts
The Starke County Council discussed necessary budget cuts to the 2019 budget when they met Monday night.
Starke County Council, Commissioners to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Council members will meet tonight where they will review cuts needed for the 2019 budget. At their last meeting, the council members urged the department heads to cut at least six percent out of their budgets or the council members will need to do the reductions. The state cut more than $830,000 from next year’s budget and it needs to be finalized prior to Dec. 31 of this year.
Appointees Needed for 2019 Starke County Boards, Commissions
The Starke County Commissioners are looking for interested, qualified candidates to fill several vacancies on boards and commissions in 2019.
Starke County Commissioners to Increase Security at Annex Building
The Starke County Commissioners are working to upgrade security at the Starke County Annex Building No. 1.
Starke County Election Board to Upgrade Voting Machines
The Starke County Election Board members will be looking into upgrading the county’s Microvote voting machines.
Starke County Government Officials Discuss Security
The presence of security officers may soon be seen at upcoming Starke County government meetings.
Orientation Planned for Newly Elected Starke County Officials
Several state training opportunities are planned this week and in December for many of the newly elected officials taking office on Jan. 1. Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem relayed some of the training courses available to the new office holders attending last week’s commissioners meeting.
Starke County Council Approves Transfer Requests
The Starke County Council members approved several transfer requests Monday night.
Starke County Council to Cut 2019 Budget
Starke County officials will need to push the pencil to the paper to come up with about $838,000 in cuts to the 2019 budget as mandated from the state.
Starke County Council, Commissioners to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Council members will consider several budget transfer requests when they meet tonight.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Discusses Additional Appropriation Requests
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners last week that he’s planning to ask the county council members next week to approve some additional appropriations.
Starke County Council Discusses Additional Appropriation Resolution
The Starke County Council members discussed an additional appropriation resolution Monday night.