A public hearing on the North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation’s proposed 2018 budget will be held during tonight’s Starke County Council meeting.
North Judson-San Pierre School Board Reviews 2018 Budget Proposal during Work Session
Starke County Sheriff Requests Three Full-Time Staff Members
The Starke County Commissioners considered a proposal from Sheriff Bill Dulin to move three part-time employees to full-time positions at the Starke County Sheriff’s Office in 2018.
Sheriff Dulin said he’d like to have a full-time receptionist, full-time cook and full-time 911 operator. He said a significant savings in part-time funding would be saved if these three employees moved to full-time. He is also asking for a raise of $1,000 for dispatchers to be included in the 2018 budget.
Starke County Sheriff Looking for Pay Increases in Next Year’s Budget
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin commented to the Starke County Council in mid-July that he would like to see a pay increase for the staff at the Starke County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Dulin said that his department is the lowest paid in the county. His staff has a lower wage than those working for the Starke County EMS, Starke County Highway Department and even the town and city police departments within the county. Officers are leaving the department to seek the same employment in other jurisdictions because of pay.
Starke County Council to Review Part Time Employee Status
The Starke County Council will revisit its salary ordinance pertaining to classifications of employees as part-time or skilled part-time.
There are different pay scales for those employees who work part-time and those part-time workers who have developed skills that can be interchangeable between departments. It is up to the department head to determine which level of pay that employee receives.
Starke County Council to Review Officer Pay
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin asked the county council members to review the pay scale for the sheriff’s department.
Sheriff Dulin said he’s losing officers to other departments and the salary offered is not competitive with other departments. In fact, he told the council that he’s lost four officers. He said it’s hard to attract applicants with what he’s able to offer. Dulin mentioned that his department is the lowest paid department in the county and the eighth lowest in terms of competitive salaries in the state.
Starke County Coroner Seeks Additional Funds
Starke County Coroner Dannie Hoffer approached the Starke County Council Monday night seeking additional funds to help pay autopsy fees.
Hoffer explained that three cases of accidental overdoses have caused additional expenses that his budget doesn’t allow. The cost of an autopsy is $1,600 and sometimes more depending on the forensic pathologist used. Hoffer said he typically uses the service of a forensic pathologist south of Indianapolis as his fee is $1,500 while the fee in South Bend is $3,200 and $2,800 in Fort Wayne.
Updates on Economic Projects Given to Starke County Government
A report given by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation updated the Starke County Council members and Starke County Commissioners on a few projects.
The sale of the Stelrema building on U.S. 35 north of Knox that would become a manufacturing home to the Gary Poppins Gourmet Popcorn company is not yet finalized. According to SCEDF officials, the contract is still on the table, but both sides have not agreed to sign to the terms.
Starke County Council, Commissioners to Meet Tonight
Newly installed Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary will be before the Starke County Council tonight to discuss a transfer request and an amendment to the 2017 salary ordinance. Starke County Coroner Dannie Hoffer will present an update on autopsy fees, the annual Starke County Economic Development Foundation monthly report will be given as well as an appropriation for SCILL and the council members will set a date for the county budget workshop.
The Starke County Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. CT.
Starke Council Proposes Annex 2 Utility Split
The Starke County Council has come up with a proposal to pay for utilities at the former jail. Now known as Annex 2, it houses the probation and health departments, Starke County Community Corrections and Purdue Extension. Continue reading
County Council Nixes North Judson Paving From Funding Disbursement Request
Starke County government officials want to wait on an upgrade to a road in the North Judson Industrial Park proposed by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. Continue reading
Tradeshow Business Updates North Judson Council on Progress
A tradeshow products business is up and running in North Judson. Outstanding Tradeshow Exhibit Services (OTES) moved into the Thermo Products building west of town on State Road 10. The company produces exhibit booths for tradeshows, as well as banners for a variety of uses.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Elaborates on Road Funding
Starke County will be able to implement plans to pave 123 miles of local roads with asphalt over the next decade without raising taxes, according to Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler. He presented options to the county council Monday. They include using money from the Local Roads and Streets and County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) funds to draw down a maximum three-to-one funding match from the state. Continue reading
Starke Council Approves Sheriff’s Office Vehicle Purchases
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin can replace several aging patrol cars following Monday action by the county council. They agreed to appropriate money from the Jail CEDIT and Therapeutic Community funds to cover the cost. Continue reading
Starke County Truck Route Ordinance Set for Adoption Tonight
The Starke County Commissioners will consider a proposed heavy truck route ordinance on third and final reading when they meet tonight.
It looks to maximize three-to-one matching money from the state to pave nearly 120 miles of county roads with hot mix asphalt over the next decade.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says the eventual goal is to have all locations in the county within a mile of a hot-mix asphalt road. Right now Starke County has 10 miles of locally maintained hot mix asphalt roads. Continue reading
Starke County Council Approves Gary Poppins Tax Abatements
The Starke County Council last night cleared the way for a new tenant to move into the long-vacant Stelrema building north of Knox. Continue reading
Starke County Highway Superintendent Touts Proposed Pavement Upgrades
Starke County officials hope to leverage money from the state to improve the county’s road infrastructure. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler is working on a long-term truck route proposal, under which all routes in the county would be within a mile of a highway or hot mix road. Continue reading
Starke County Council Sets Tax Rates
Property owners in Starke County will pay cumulative bridge and capital development taxes in 2018 after a Monday vote by the county council to reestablish both rates. Continue reading
Starke Council Adds Skilled Part-Time Classification to Salary Ordinance
A handful of part-time county employees could be getting pay raises following Monday action by the Starke County Council. They agreed to create a “skilled part-time” wage classification as part of the salary ordinance. Continue reading
Starke County Council Clears Way for Stelrema Building Occupant
A long vacant Starke County industrial building could soon have a new occupant. Chicagoland-area-based gourmet snack food producer Gary Poppins plans to move into the Stelrema building on U.S. 35 this summer and be fully operational in that space by the end of the year. Continue reading
