Starke County officials will decide during an upcoming work session whether to repair or replace a 2009 ambulance. EMS Director Keith Emigh has asked for money to purchase a new truck due to extensive mechanical problems with the rig based at Grovertown. Most recently it lost a cylinder, which prompted the request. Continue reading
Council Questions Proposed Jail Addition
Nearly six months after the first inmates moved into the new Starke County Jail east of Knox the architect and builder are recommending a $525,000 addition to the facility. Architect and project manager Scott Carnegie with DLZ told the council and commissioners an automatic auger would catch small items like cellophane and plastic wrappers inmates flush down the toilets and keep them out of the city’s sanitary sewer system. Continue reading
Starke County Officials to Get Courthouse Renovation Update
Starke County officials will have a better idea after tonight of what proposed renovations to the old jail and courthouse will look like and cost. Representatives from DLZ and Skillman Corporation will present plans to the council and commissioners. They designed and built the new jail east of Knox on State Road 8.
The cost of justice-related projects will be covered with funds from the county economic development income tax passed to pay for jail construction. Other improvements will be paid for out of the general county economic development income tax fund. The prosecutor, clerk and Starke County Community Corrections will also contribute money from their budgets to cover portions of the project. The amounts of their respective contributions are not known at this time. Continue reading
Starke County Seeking BZA Members
The Starke County Commissioners are looking to fill a seat on the Board of Zoning Appeals. The vacancy was created when a member moved from the county. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners Take Infrastructure Plan Under Advisement
Investment in infrastructure is critical in order to see future growth in Starke County. That’s the assessment Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver shared with the county commissioners last night. He and Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler jointly presented a five-year strategic infrastructure plan to the body. It includes an overview and timeline of bridge and road projects and justification for plans still on the drawing board. Continue reading
Sheriff Looks for Funds to Cover Drug Counseling Costs
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin wants to charge inmates a fee to cover the cost of drug counseling services at the jail. He presented his idea to the county commissioners Monday evening. Continue reading
Highway Superintended Makes Case for Position Reallocation
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says the request to create employee budget positions was misunderstood by the county commissioners at their last meeting. Neither Ritzler nor Commissioner Kathy Norem were there, and the other two commissioners denied the request citing a top-heavy management structure within the department. Continue reading
Starke County Council Mulls Ambulance Purchase
The Starke County Council wants input from the commissioners before proceeding with the purchase of a new ambulance. EMS Director Keith Emigh is looking to replace the 2009 Ford truck based at Grovertown due to extensive mechanical issues. Continue reading
Starke County Council to Consider Ambulance Purchase
Starke County EMS Director Keith Emigh will present three quotes for a replacement ambulance to the county council when they meet this evening. He told the county commissioners two weeks ago the rig at the Grovertown base recently underwent significant repairs and has since lost a cylinder. The county purchased the 2009 Ford truck used. Emigh is also looking into repair costs for the rig. Continue reading
Broken Diesel Pump Proves Costly for Starke County EMS
Starke County EMS has been paying retail diesel fuel prices for the past several weeks due to a problem with the pump at the county highway garage. They haven’t been able to use it due to an issue with the system that keeps track of which fuel goes to which account for billing purposes. Continue reading
Starke County Officials Pricing Ambulances
Starke County EMS spent nearly $2,000 last month to keep its fleet on the road. Director Keith Emigh told the commissioners Monday night most of that money went toward the truck at the Grovertown base. He says repairs at the county highway garage cost $1,764.10. Additionally an air conditioning problem on the rig based at Knox and a blower motor problem on the North Judson truck had to be fixed. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners Act on Salary Requests
The Starke County Commissioners are recommending the county council increase the emergency medical services director’s salary by $4,000. That would bump Keith Emigh’s annual pay to $45,000, pending council approval. Continue reading
Council Approves Funds for Additional Jail Officers
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin can hire two additional full-time jail officers after action Monday night by the Starke County Council.
Starke County Council Establishes Employee Longevity Pay Scale
Employees who make a career of working for Starke County government will be rewarded under a new longevity pay scale adopted Monday night by the county council. After a lengthy discussion they approved a salary ordinance for 2016 with 1 percent pay raises for all employees, regardless of their length of service. Continue reading
County Commissioners May Hire IT Director Tonight
The Starke County Commissioners are poised to hire a new information technology director for the county when they meet tonight. They interviewed prospective candidates to replace longtime director Joe Short during an executive session meeting last week. Short is leaving the county to take a job in South Bend. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners Recommend Additional Jail Hires
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin has the blessing of the Starke County Commissioners to hire two additional full-time jail officers. First the county council must appropriate the money to do so. Indications are it will come from the tax money collected to pay for the jail project. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Presents Bare-Bones Budget
The proposed North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation budget has been slashed considerably over the past several years. Corporation business manager and treasurer Guy Richie told the county council during last week’s budget hearing that revenue continues to decline due to changes in state funding and drops in enrollment. Continue reading
Starke County Officials Name Redevelopment Commission
Starke County once again has a populated county redevelopment commission board. The volunteer body was established by the commissioners in 2006 and set up a tax increment financing, or TIF, district near the intersection of U.S. 30 and U.S. 35 in Hamlet. It allows property tax money generated in a specific area to be recaptured for infrastructure improvements in the area. By doing so, the land becomes more attractive to other potential business and industrial tenants. The five parcels of land in the Sysco TIF district have generated $15,427.71 for the county. That money is receipted by the auditor and parked in a special account. Continue reading
IU Health Starke Hospital President Updates Council, Commissioners
IU Health Starke Hospital intends to renew its lease with the county for the current facility. President Craig Felty told the council and commissioners Monday a formal notice will be forthcoming in 30 to 60 days. Right now due diligence is continuing in the proposed acquisition of IU Health Starke and LaPorte Hospitals by Community Health Systems. Continue reading
Starke County Council to Consider Salary Ordinance Ranges
The Starke County Council will consider salary ordinance ranges for county employees when they meet this evening. Their agenda indicates proposed 1, 2 and 3 percent increases will be discussed, along with an adjustment to the state’s mileage rate. Continue reading
