The Starke County Council failed again this week to pass an amendment of the ordinance regarding the use of Save the Hospital Funds. The amendment would have authorized the use of up to $50,000 in Save the Hospital Funds to hire a consultant to evaluate the hospital’s value.
This information would be used in the possible sale of the hospital to IU Health La Porte or other interested buyers. IU Health La Porte has already made an offer.
Starke County Council members will resume discussion tonight concerning an amendment to an ordinance that, if approved, would allow the county to use up to $50,000 in Save the Hospital Funds to hire a consultant to evaluate the hospital’s real and personal property.
The Council had discussed the proposed amendment during a special meeting on May 14, but it was voted down. Council President Dave Pearman said the motion needed a five-member approval, but only gained four “yes” votes.
“The thing that I really want to reiterate about this is this is not necessarily saying that we are going to spend even one dollar to start with, but we need some enabling legislation to allow us to seek a consultant for this project to make sure that we make the wise decision for the public’s best interest,” said Pearman.
The public hearing regarding the possibility of selling IU Health Starke Hospital to IU Health La Porte was held yesterday evening, and a number of questions were answered regarding the sale. Several concerned citizens, including some hospital board members, were present at the meeting with questions.
The county officials discussed a possible amendment of the county ordinance restricting the use of the proceeds from the lease of Starke Memorial Hospital dated October 1, 1996. The amendment would authorize the use of up to $50,000 in Save the Hospital Funds to be used to hire a consultant to evaluate the hospital’s real and personal property.
Starke County Council President Dave Pearman encourages the public to attend the public hearing of the County Council and Commissioners on Monday, May 14, at the Starke County Annex Building.
The county officials will discuss the possible amendment of the county ordinance restricting the use of the proceeds from the lease of Starke Memorial Hospital dated October 1st, 1996. The amendment would authorize the use of up to $50,000 in Save the Hospital Funds to be used to hire a consultant to evaluate the hospital’s real and personal property. Starke County Council President, Dave Pearman, said you are encouraged to attend this public hearing to ask questions and voice concerns.
How much is IU Health Starke Hospital really worth?
Starke County officials have agreed to hold a hearing on May 14th to consider adding an addendum to the Save the Hospital document to help answer that question. By adding an addendum to the ordinance, the officials would be able to dip into the fund to finance the hiring of a consultant firm that would place a value figure on the hospital, equipment and more.
One of the agenda items for the combined Starke County Council and Commissioners meeting tonight will be a method for paying for 9-1-1 dispatch services. The money is collected by the state, and will be distributed to the individual counties.
According to Auditor Kay Chaffins, last week the funding to maintain 9-1-1 services has been going down each year. In 2010, the county received $408,354. In 2011, the amount was $362,849.
The Starke County Council discussed the proposed hospital sale at their meeting this week. Council President David Pearman suggested that before any decision be made on the sale to IU Health LaPorte Hospital that a consultant needs to be secured to give the members some idea of what the facility is worth.
The issue between Sheriff Oscar Cowen and Starke County Merit Board President Ken Arnett seems to have been resolved, they were using mediation in court last Friday. Former Starke County Circuit Court Judge Marvin McLaughlin conducted the session and reported back to the county council Monday night.
“All the parties showed up and brought their common sense,” McLaughlin said. “We got an agreement that took care of the whole lawsuit. We also established a procedure for settling all the disputes and the council and courts should not be bothered again.”
It was on this date in 1979 that the Starke County Council gave approval to the County Commissioners to pursue the matter of constructing a County Highway Garage. The approval followed a presentation by Commissioner Robert Ferch in which preliminary plans were outlined. Earlier in the day, the commissioners approved the purchase of 10 acres of land for the new garage. A purchase agreement has been drawn up for the land, which is located on County Road 250 North and 375 East off of U.S. 35. The land is near the Arrowhead property which was under consideration as a site for a time last year.
Even though the Starke County Fireworks display is three and a half months away, Councilwoman Linda Berndt brought her fellow councilmen up to date on the planning.
“I’ve got a couple more ideas, but I want to present them at the fireworks meeting, which we need to make a decision when to have it. June 23, the Nelson’s Port-a-Pit is booked for the fire station on the south end,” said Berndt.
The Porta-pit chicken sale will be in June, but before that is a fish fry at the Knox Moose Lodge on April 20th. Mayor Rick Chambers is also working on the event.
Everyone is encouraged to attend any fundraisers to help defer the cost of fireworks to the county.
The Starke County Jail Committee, that has been selected to address the problems at the aging Starke County Jail, received notice that House Bill 1213 passed on the last day of the session. The approval allows the Starke County Council to increase the County Economic Development Income Tax to finance, construct and equip a jail facility. The County Council is only permitted to raise enough funds to cover the costs of the jail and the additional tax rate cannot increase more than .65%.
A mediation session conducted by former Starke County Judge Marvin McLaughlin will be this morning at 9:00 a.m. McLaughlin, a current Starke County Councilman, volunteered to mediate a disagreement between Merit Board President Ken Arnett, and Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen.
The pair appeared before the County Council in mid-February. Arnett requested funds to fight a suit brought against him and the merit board members by the Sheriff.
Why is the Circuit Breaker so important to every property owner in Starke County?
The Circuit Breaker is part of a property tax relief measure offered to various types of property. Spending in one area of government, when it trips the Circuit Breaker, means spending must be reduced somewhere else.
A feud between Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen and Merit Board President Ken Arnett has spilled over into a public squabble. Ken Arnett came before the Starke County Council Monday night requesting funds to fight a suit brought by the sheriff against the Merit Board.
“I’m here requesting funding for attorneys fees for the Merit Board,” said Arnett. “As I’m sure you’ve probably know, a suit has been filed against the Merit Board.”
The recent revelation of misappropriated money from Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County and Starke County Tourism has caused embarrassment to members of several interlocking boards, and consternation on the part of county government officials. Those government officials expressed anger and frustration at this week’s Starke County Council meeting.
What’s ahead for Oregon-Davis schools? Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney appeared before the Starke County Council Monday night to discuss the school’s General Fund Referendum that will appear on the primary ballot in May. Because of a decrease of almost $400,000 in funding announced by the State Board of Education in October, Oregon-Davis has been left scrambling for revenue.
The third in a series of informational meetings on the Starke County Jail was held at Oregon-Davis High School last night.
Those in attendance heard plans for a bill to be heard in the state legislature that would allow the Starke County Council to adopt an ordinance imposing an additional county economic development income tax rate for the purpose of financing, constructing, acquiring, and equipping a county jail and related buildings and parking facilities. Although this method of funding a project has not been agreed upon by the Jail Committee, if passed by the legislature it would be a funding tool to be used exclusively or in tandem with a property tax levy to fund a new jail.
After serving five years as the Starke County Council President, Mark Smith announced before yesterday’s reorganization meeting that he would not stand for reelection. David Pearman was elected the President and Mitch Semans the Vice President. Attorney Martin Lucas was retained as the council attorney.
In appointments:
Mitch Semans accepted both the Starke County Economic Development position and the Council’s seat on the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission.
Tony Radkiewicz was named to the Solid Waste Board.
Judy Benninghoff remained on the Planning Commission.
Ken Wallace was reappointed to the Alcohol Beverage Commission Board.
The Henry F. Schricker library expansion project is underway and moving along right on schedule. Library Director Sheila Urwiler said that the next step they’ll be taking is to get the plans and drawings to an estimator.
“We’re getting our final estimates and they’re drawing up the construction documents to go out for bidding, and the bidding should start in February sometime, we’re not sure exactly when yet, but that’s the goal right now,” said Urwiler.
Some members of the Starke County Council and the Police Merit Board will be meeting in the near future to talk over the police pension fund. Merit Board President, Ken Arnett, discussed the status of the fund with the Starke County Council this week and for now, it looks pretty positive.
