Starke County Officials Celebrate Completion of Road Project

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A major Starke County road project is substantially complete. Members of the county council and commissioners and officials from the Starke County Economic Development Commission will celebrate the reconstruction of the intersection of State Road 8 and 300 East later today. The intersection has been rebuilt to accommodate traffic to and from the Knox Industrial Park. It now features a turn lane and acceleration and deceleration lanes to help trucks more easily navigate the corner. Continue reading →

Nominations Sought for Starke County Park Board

Posted on Author WKVI
The Bass Lake Beach and Campground are among the amenities the Starke County Park Board will oversee.
The Bass Lake Beach and Campground are among the amenities the Starke County Park Board will oversee.

Starke County officials are seeking nominations for volunteers to serve on the county park board. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall and the Starke County Council each have two nominations – one Democrat and one Republican. The Starke County Commissioners will select the fifth member. Political affiliation is not a consideration for the commissioners nominee. Continue reading →

Monthly Bass Lake Beach Report on Commissioners Agenda

Posted on Author WKVI

starke-county-courthouseThe Starke County Commissioners will get their monthly management report for the Bass Lake Beach and Campground when they meet this evening. Manager Richard Callahan and his attorney Dave Wallsmith are first on the agenda for tonight’s 7 p.m. meeting at the Starke County Annex Building. The commissioners voted recently to limit camping to 15 days instead of allowing season-long leasing of campsites. Continue reading →

Starke County Council Approves Inkeepers Tax Amendment

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Starke County business owners who pay the inkeepers tax will now send their money to the county instead of to the state.

That’s one of the changes made recently by the county council. That new policy takes effect on Sept. 1, 2014. Notices will be mailed to affected taxpayers advising them of the changes.

The tax rate is not changing, but the penalties for non-compliance have been increased significantly. Failure to pay the tax timely will result in a 100-percent penalty.

Starke County Commissioners Crack Down on Bass Lake Campground

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The year-round campsite leases at the Bass Lake Beach and Campground run afoul of the guidelines under which the state turned the property over to the county. The Land and Water Conservation Fund does not allow for permanent enclosed structures like campers to be placed on public campsites. President of the Commissioners Jennifer Davis advised Bass Lake Beach and Campground manager Richard Callahan and his attorney, David Wallsmith, that the practice will no longer be allowed. Continue reading →

North Judson Council Sets Budget Workshop

Posted on Author WKVI

North Judson Water TowerMembers of the North Judson Town Council will meet Thursday, July 31 at 8 a.m. at the community center to work on the 2015 budget. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says that meeting is open to the public. The initial hearing on the spending proposal will take place Monday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. at the community center. A final adoption date has not been set yet pending a non-binding review by the Starke County Council. That’s new this year and will take place sometime in October. Starke County is part of a pilot program for that process.

Starke County Commissioners Weighing Beach Options

Posted on Author WKVI

starke-county-courthouseThe Starke County Commissioners will have some pointed questions for Bass Lake Beach and Campground Manager Richard Callahan and his attorney, David Wallsmith, when they meet tonight. They attend the evening meetings each month and give a management report. During the July 7 commissioners meeting, several residents complained about the conditions at the beach and campground over the Independence Day weekend. Continue reading →

N.J.-S.P. Revises Budget Adoption Calendar

Posted on Author WKVI
Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board has revised its budget adoption calendar. The corporation was selected as part of a state pilot program and as a result cannot adopt a budget until Oct. 15. The Starke County Council will conduct a public hearing on Monday, Aug. 18 on the school corporation’s general, debt, pension and transportation funds. The next day the school board will meet in special session to adopt the 2015 Capital Projects Fund and Bus Replacement Plan. Continue reading →

Starke County Council Tables Park Board Consideration

Posted on Author WKVI

starke-county-courthouseStarke County Council members want more information about costs associated with setting up a park board before agreeing to do so. Tony Radkiewicz chairs the county park board committee, which was set up to gather information. Their proposed mission statement indicates there will not be a cost to the county to provide oversight to Bass Lake Beach and Campground, the Starke County Forest and other publicly dedicated lands not under municipal control. The board would be comprised of volunteer members with a personal interest in parks and recreation and a desire to be proactive in service to the community. Continue reading →

Council Approves Vehicle Purchases for Sheriff

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen has the county council’s permission to buy two new patrol cars. Funds for one vehicle will come from from the county’s cumulative capital development fund. The other will be paid for from the commissioners’ EDIT fund. The county has agreed to spend up to $30,000 each on the vehicles, with the rest of the money to come from the sheriff’s commissary account. Continue reading →

Starke County Council Considering Revised Innkeeper’s Tax

Posted on Author WKVI

starke-county-courthouseThe Starke County Council will consider a revision to the innkeeper’s tax when they meet on Monday, June 16. The county already has a tax on the books for hotels, motels and other rental lodgings. The proposed policy clarifies that taxes are to be reported on forms provided by the county treasurer and is due to that office no more than 20 days after the end of the month in which it is collected. An addition to the ordinance sets a civil penalty for non-payment at 100 percent of the amount of the annual uncollected tax, plus taxes due. The proposed change passed on first reading during Monday’s council meeting.

Starke County Council Re-Establishes Capital Development and Bridge Funds

Posted on Author WKVI

starke-county-courthouseStarke County Council members voted unanimously to reestablish two funds that were somehow discontinued by the state. Monday’s action on the cumulative capital development and cumulative bridge funds will allow the county to keep more of the property tax money it collects and spend money that is currently set aside. Council President Dave Pearman hopes this will soften the blow for the county when budget time rolls around.

Continue reading →