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
Council Approves Jail Money After Lengthy Discission
The Starke County Council last week approved funds transfers necessary to shore up the jail operating budget through the end of the year.
During the discussion prior to the vote, Sheriff Bill Dulin was asked why the county has a separate jail warden and jail commander. Continue reading
Starke County Council Braces for Budget Hit
The Starke County Council has set a timeline for adoption of the county’s 2017 budget. They’ve scheduled budget workshops on Aug. 22 at 8 a.m. The public hearing on the proposed budget will take place at their Sept. 19 meeting, with adoption on Oct. 17. Continue reading
Starke County Council Approves Tax Abatement Requests
A Chicagoland-area business will soon be able to relocate to North Judson following action last night by the Starke County Council. They unanimously agreed to a seven-year, $360,000 tax abatement on equipment and an additional 10-year, $665,000 phase in of taxes on real estate improvements for Outstanding Tradeshow Exhibit Services. OTES President Nan Wellman plans to purchase and renovate the Thermo Products building on State Road 10 just west of North Judson. Continue reading
Starke County Council to Consider Tax Abatement Request
The Starke County Commissioners tonight will formally consider a tax abatement request from an Illinois-based company that’s looking to move to North Judson.
Outstanding Tradeshow Exhibit Services, OTES for short, wants to buy the Thermo Products building on State Road 10 west of town and set up shop in there. The company creates tradeshow exhibits for businesses. Continue reading
Starke Council Tables Sheriff’s Budget Transfer
The Starke County Council this week tabled a request from Sheriff Bill Dulin to move money around within his budget. They opted instead to revisit the transfer between the sheriff’s budget and the jail budget in the fall just in case an expense pops up between now and then. The jail budget is running in the red due to the expense of operating a larger facility. Continue reading
Illinois Company Eyes Starke County for Relocation
The Starke County Council this week took preliminary steps to clear the way for the relocation of a Chicagoland-area business to North Judson. Continue reading
Starke County Officials Approve Hospital Lease Extension
The Starke County Commissioners last night approved another extension of the lease deadline with Starke Hospital. The county owns the land and building at the corner of Culver Road and South Heaton Street in Knox. Starke Hospital wants to build a new facility there. Once it’s finished they plan to tear down the current building and use that spot for parking and green space. Continue reading
Starke County Council to Resume Discussion of Sheriff’s Budget
The Starke County Council will consider Sheriff Bill Dulin’s request to transfer money within his budget when they meet this evening. Continue reading
Starke County Officials Struggle With Jail Budget
Starke County officials are looking at short and long-term ways to shore up operating expenses at the new jail. It has been open for about a year, and budgeted operating costs were based on an actuarial study done for the county. Information shared during last night’s joint meeting of the council and commissioners indicates those recommendations may have been based on flawed information. Continue reading
Starke Hospital CEO Discusses New Facility Plans
Negotiations between the county and the new owners of Starke Hospital regarding the construction of a new facility on the existing site are ongoing. The county owns the current building at the corner of Heaton Street and Culver Road in Knox and the land on which is sits, but the hospital is operated by Community Health Systems. Starke Hospital CEO Craig Felty says they’re making progress in negotiations with the county for a new lease. Continue reading
Starke County Officials to Discuss Jail Operating Costs
The Starke County Council and Commissioners will meet in special session this evening to discuss the sheriff department budget. Last month the council deferred Sheriff Bill Dulin’s request for an additional appropriation until they can get a handle on expenses at the justice center. The new jail has been open for about a year, and budgeted operating costs were based on an actuarial study done for the county. Continue reading
Starke County EMS Fills Full-Time Positions
Starke County EMS Director Keith Emigh hopes some recent hires will alleviate some of the staffing issues for the county ambulance service. He told the commissioners Monday evening he’s finalizing the hiring of two full-time paramedics. They’re expected to start July 1. Continue reading
Council Wrestles With Jail Expenses
The Starke County Council has scheduled a special meeting to try to get a handle on expenses related to jail operations. They deferred Sheriff Bill Dulin’s request for an additional appropriation until they can take a closer look at things like utility costs for the building. It’s been open for a year, and extensive studies were done beforehand to project costs. The council should have findings from an energy audit in time for their scheduled June 13th meeting. It will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the annex building. Continue reading
Starke Council Approves EMS Full-Time Positions
Starke County EMS Director Keith Emigh hopes hiring two full-time paramedics will alleviate some of the staffing concerns for the county ambulance service. The council on Monday approved his request to hire two people for full-time positions. Continue reading
Starke County Council Approves Revised Airport Zoning Ordinance
Plans to extend the runway at the Starke County Airport by 5,000 feet received the county council’s blessing Monday evening. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver says the local facility is part of the National Airport System Plan and is therefore eligible for money from the Federal Aviation Administration. He adds those funds come from excise taxes levied on the aviation industry by the federal government. Continue reading
Starke County Council Discusses Road Funding Goals
A committee of Starke County officials recommends accelerating completion of the county’s bridge replacement schedule with one-time transportation money from the state. Continue reading
Council to Discuss Additional Transportation Funds
The Starke County Council will consider a proposal from the highway superintendent with regard to additional state transportation funds when they meet this evening. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler assembled a road funding committee to discuss options for the one-time appropriation from the state. He also hopes to come up with the required local match to draw down additional funds in order to free up $1 million for additional uses throughout the county over the next five years. Continue reading
Starke Council to Consider Rainy Day Fund Loan
The Starke County Council will consider a request for a loan from the rainy day fund to supplement the general fund budget when they meet this evening. Their meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the annex building. Continue reading
Starke County Ambulance Repairs Still Pending
Starke County EMS is still a truck short due to extensive mechanical problems with the 2009 Ford ambulance based at Grovertown. The county council previously decided to repair the rig rather than spend upwards of $100,000 on a new one. Continue reading
