State Sen. Jim Arnold will discuss new state laws with the Starke County Council and Commissioners when they meet this evening. He’s first on the agenda for the 5:30 p.m. council meeting. Continue reading
Starke County Council Approves Purchase of New Court Software
Starke County will soon switch to a new court software program. IT Director Joe Short says the Windows-based Odyssey program will replace the DOS-based CSI program that’s currently in use. The switch will also save the county the $25,000 a year they are currently paying for a maintenance contract. Continue reading
Starke County Council Sets County Vehicle Maintenance Rate
The Starke County Council reluctantly set a labor rate of $18.50 per hour for work on county-owned vehicles by mechanics at the highway garage. That’s the journeyman mechanic’s hourly rate. Continue reading
Starke County Council Approves Jail Commander Pay Raise
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin can increase the starting pay for his next jail commander after action Monday evening by the Starke County Council. Continue reading
Starke County Council to Consider Jail Commander Pay
The Starke County Council will decide tonight whether to increase the salary for the jail commander. Sheriff Bill Dulin’s request to boost the pay for the position to reflect the additional responsibilities at the new jail got a favorable recommendation from the county commissioners. Dulin told them he can transfer money from within his budget to cover the extra expense. Continue reading
Starke County Sheriff Posts Jail Commander Position
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin is looking for a new jail commander to run the new $15 million facility. Continue reading
Starke County Council Prepares For Budget Planning
Starke County department heads will soon begin work on their annual budgets for the upcoming year. Auditor Kay Chaffins says preliminary budgets need to be submitted to the state Department of Local Government Finance by the end of June. This will be the first budget session for Sheriff Bill Dulin and Clerk Vicki Cooley, both of whom were elected last fall and took office in January. Continue reading
Starke County Council Approves Salary Ordinance Amendments
The Starke County Council last night approved two amendments to the salary ordinance to reflect changing job duties. The county highway bookkeeper/clerk will work eight hours per day instead of seven. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says the first and last hours of the work day are the busiest, and this will ensure efficient work flow. He adds the department administrator has taken on more responsibilities due to internal restructuring and needs the additional hour to get everything done. Continue reading
Starke County Council to Consider Salary Ordinance Changes Tonight
The Starke County Council will take up the agenda from their rescheduled May 18 meeting during a special-called 5:30 p.m. session tonight. It includes a request to create a new position and proposed amendments to the county’s salary ordinance. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler is also on the agenda to request a transfer and an amendment to the salary ordinance to create an administrative assistant position. The meeting will take place in the first floor meeting room at the county annex building.
Courthouse Repairs on Starke County Commissioners Agenda
The Starke County Commissioners should have a better idea how much repairs to the courthouse will cost after their meeting tonight. They’ve asked for quotes on tuckpointing the brick in order to set a budget for the work. Fixing the masonry is one of several repairs that need to be made to the historic structure. Wiring needs to be upgraded, and the roof needs to be fixed as well. Continue reading
Starke County Council Authorizes Mailing of Inkeepers Tax Letters
Starke County inkeepers taxes are now payable to the county treasurer’s office each month. The forms that need to be submitted with those payments are available on the county’s website, and any questions can be directed to the treasurer’s office. Payments were previously submitted to the state. Continue reading
Starke County Council Approves Mower Purchase for Jail
Starke County officials have opted to do their own lawn maintenance and snow removal at the new jail in an effort to contain costs. On Monday the county council approved the purchase of a mower with a commercial grade deck for the facility. It will be paid for with tax money set aside for construction of the building east of Knox on State Road 8. Continue reading
Commissioners to Discuss Memorial Day Flags
The Starke County Commissioners hope to settle what has become a contentious issue when they meet this evening. Historically the county has purchased flags to place on the graves of veterans each Memorial Day. They coordinate the project with the local veterans service organizations. This year questions arose about how funds would be distributed. The commissioners have stressed their commitment to the tradition in prior meetings and have vowed to ensure every veteran in the county has a grave marker during the upcoming holiday. Continue reading
Starke County Council Approves Computer Purchases
Starke County IT Director Joe Short can purchase a new server for the county and update several obsolete computers. The county council recently approved his request to appropriate funds from their county adjusted gross income tax certified shares. He’s replacing an antiquated server and six Windows XP computers he says pose a security risk to the county’s network. Continue reading
Starke County Council Approves Sheriff’s Vehicle Purchases
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin can buy two 2016 Ford Interceptor Utility Vehicles. The county council Monday evening approved the purchase, which will cost slightly more than $70,000. The money will come from the county adjusted gross income tax, or CAGIT, certified shares. The equipment list for both was whittled down significantly due to budgetary constraints. Dulin says new light bars need to be purchased for the SUV’s, as the ones on the existing Dodge Charger patrol cars will not fit.
Starke County Sheriff to Discuss Request for Second K9
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin will discuss the acquisition of a second K9 with the county commissioners when they meet this evening. Last year the county bought a dog from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department after one of their K9 handlers left for personal reasons. K9 Terror is a certified drug and tracking dog and has already assisted with numerous drug-related investigations since joining the force in December. Dulin will also talk to the commissioners about establishing a county inmate road crew, according to the advance agenda for tonight’s meeting. It starts at 6 p.m. at the annex building. Continue reading
Starke County Highway Superintendent Makes Case for Additional Mechanic
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler has the blessing of the county commissioners to seek funds for a third mechanic. Right now the two mechanics maintain 106 county-owned vehicles and pieces of equipment, with top priority given to those used by EMS and the sheriff’s department. Highway vehicles are third on the list, and those used by other departments are fourth. All of the money for repairs comes from the highway department’s budget. The mechanics are also responsible for completing all of the necessary paperwork. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners Approve Jail Hiring, Bless Vehicle Purchases
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin will hire two additional part-time jail officers for now in anticipation of the new jail opening in a few months. They may eventually be promoted to full-time once the facility is online and the county is housing more prisoners.
Dulin is also looking to hire a part-time maintenance person for the new jail soon. The position will require quite a bit of technical expertise to handle the state-of-the-art correctional facility. Applications for that job close Friday. Dulin says he’s already gotten a dozen or so resumes. He plans to review them all with the commissioners in an executive session after the application deadline. Continue reading
Starke County Council Hits Pause on Highway Department Pay Scale Request
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler’s request to reorganize the wage scale for truck drivers is on hold for right now. He presented the concept to the county council Monday evening as a way to level the playing field between new hires and experienced employees who have worked for the county for several years. Continue reading
Starke County Officials to Discuss Staffing at New Jail
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin will present the amended staffing report for the new jail to the county council and commissioners this evening. The facility east of Knox is scheduled to open in June and will require additional staff to handle the increased inmate capacity. Dulin will present the report to the council during their 5:30 p.m. meeting and to the commissioners when they meet at 6. Both sessions will take place at the county annex building. Continue reading
