The Starke County Council is in the process of crafting the 2015 budget. Once it’s finished, it will be published for taxpayer review. Council President Dave Pearman says that process is changing after this year. Continue reading
Nominations Sought for Starke County Park Board
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
Starke County Tax Rates Unchanged for Upcoming Year
Starke County’s local option income tax rates are not going up. The county council Monday set the rates for the County Adjusted Gross Income Tax (CAGIT) and County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) Funds and the Starke County Jail CEDIT. Continue reading
Monthly Bass Lake Beach Report on Commissioners Agenda
The 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
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
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
Members 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 Council Establishes Park Board
Starke County now has a parks and recreation board. The Starke County Council established the body to oversee amenities like the Bass Lake Beach and Campground, Starke County Forest and other county-owned recreational areas. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners Weighing Beach Options
The 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
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
Starke 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
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
The 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
Starke 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.
North Judson-San Pierre School Board Waits on Spending Cuts
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
The North Judson – San Pierre school board has postponed definite decisions about how to slash $1.2 million from the corporation’s budget.
They’re awaiting more information about retirements and transfers. Monday evening the board members did approve a budget calender. Treasurer Guy Richie will present information to the school board and superintendent on July 15.
Starke County Council Anticipates Flat Budgets
The Starke County Council wants department heads to keep their budgets for the upcoming year in line with current spending levels. President Dave Pearman has told them to cut where they can.
“Definitely don’t bring us anything that’s an increase. It can’t be tolerated unless there’s a special circumstance. In that case we’ll meet with whomever wants to meet with us,” he says.
Beach and Campground Report on Starke County Commissioners Agenda
The Starke County Commissioners will get their first status report of 2014 from the manager of Bass Lake Beach and Campground when they meet this evening. Richard Callahan has a contract with the county to manage the amenities. He and his attorney, Dave Wallsmith, are first on the agenda for the 7 p.m. meeting. Starke County EMS Director Paul Matthewson will also discuss his desire to add a paramedic at the North Judson base to provide better emergency medical response for the county. Other items on the agenda include approval of a uniform contract for the highway department and modification of the county’s nepotism policy to mirror recent changes in state law. County attorney Marty Lucas told the commissioners at their last meeting that the county’s policy is more strict than what the state has on the books. Continue reading
Starke County Council Awaiting Park Board Committee Report
Starke County Council members want a breakdown of the pros and cons of establishing a county park board from a committee tasked with looking into the matter. The issue was raised last year due to problems between the county and the contracted manager of Bass Lake Beach and Campground. Councilman Tony Radkiewicz chairs the committee. He says most of his fellow commissioners are not in favor of setting up a board because they don’t have money available. County attorney Marty Lucas says the council has the final say as to whether such a board is established. Radkiewicz says his committee will meet again before the next council meeting and prepare a report for the council’s consideration.
Starke County Council Approves Unsafe Building Demolition Money
The Starke County Plan Commission can now enforce demolition orders for dilapidated properties after the county council appropriated $20,000 for that purpose. Plan Commission President Dennis Estok told them the county already has a process in place.
“We have a public hearing with these people, and then we give an order whether to rehab that house or to demolish it. If it’s too far gone, we want it demolished. They have X amount of days to do it. Now I can tell you right now I’ve been sitting on planning for five years. I bet you we’ve had a handful out of probably 200 cases that have actually done something on their own. So basically if they don’t do it, by law we can go in there and take care of the problem,” Estok said. Until now, funds have not been available for the plan commission to carry out demolition orders, some of which date back to 2006. Continue reading
Economic Development Director Says Starke County Still on SYSCO’s Radar
Houston-based SYSCO Corporation still plans to build a regional hub in Hamlet, according to Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver. He told the county council he talks to SYSCO officials every two months.
“They say this is still part of their plan, as is the facility in Texas, but the people I talk to don’t have any idea when.”
