The mild winter resulted in considerable savings for the Starke County Highway Department. Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners Monday evening they used 25 percent less sand and 50 percent less salt compared to last year. Continue reading
Road Closed for Bridge Repair
A road in northeast Davis Township will be closed for the next few months to accommodate a bridge replacement. The Starke County Highway Department has shut down 700 North between 500 East and U.S. 35 to replace the bridge over the Robbins Ditch built in 1975. The road is expected to reopen in early June. Continue reading
Sheriff Urges Motorists to Watch for Inmates
Inmates from the Starke County Jail have resumed picking up trash along local roadways. The work crew of between three and five people is under the supervision of a jail employee. Continue reading
Starke Highway Safety Plan Results in Fewer Wrecks
The safety program implemented in March 2013 by the Starke County Highway Department is apparently paying off. Superintendent Rik Ritzler cites crash data from the state.
“Our crashes in the past two years have dropped dramatically. It was at 196 in 2012, 154 in 2013 and 128 in 2014. We believe it’s even lower than that in 2015. They should be getting those statistics out sooner this year because they have it more automated than they’ve had in the past.” Continue reading
Starke County Highway Department Reports Winter Savings
The relatively mild winter has resulted in considerable savings for the Starke County Highway Department. The nine winter events recorded last month cost slightly more than $50,000, according to information highway superintendent Rik Ritzler shared with the county commissioners this week. That figure includes money spent on diesel fuel, salt, sand and employee overtime. Last January the county spent more than $86,000, and two years ago January winter operations cost more than $130,000. The savings will be invested in road maintenance. Continue reading
Bridge Repair Forces Road Closure
A Starke County road will be closed for bridge repair. Starting today 25 North between 500 and 600 East will be shut down. No timeline has been offered as to when the bridge will reopen.
Improvements Underway at Starke County Highway Department
Phase one of the Starke County Highway Department’s five-year facilities upgrade plan is underway. Continue reading
Starke County Highway Announces Bridge Restriction
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 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
Starke County Election Board Approves Paving Project
The Starke County Election Board should be able to close out a federal grant for polling site improvements soon. Help America Vote Act funds were used to make the Bass Lake Lions Club building used in North Bend Township handicap accessible. Continue reading
Starke County Highway Department Readies for Winter
It’s only the first week of August, but officials with the Starke County Highway Department are already planning for winter. Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners this week the county’s salt cost has gone down significantly over last year. The county piggybacks on the state’s bid and is able to realize considerable savings as a result. Ritzler says the price per ton has gone down from $73.62 to $65.32. If this winter is comparable to last year’s, he says that will save the county about $10,000. Continue reading
Rain Keeps County Highway Department Busy
The record June rainfall kept the Starke County Highway Department busy. As of Wednesday, all Starke County roads are open. The county highway department does plan to build up for low areas that chronically flood. Continue reading
Road Reopens After Bridge Replacement
A Starke County road is open again to traffic after the completion of a bridge replacement project. 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
Ten Mile Road Closed Until Further Notice
Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area officials in North Judson have closed Ten Mile Road in Starke County until further notice due to soggy conditions. DNR officials advise other property roads could be closed as well to protect levees from damage. More rain is in the forecast through the weekend. Continue reading
Starke County Departments to Pay County for Vehicle Maintenance
The Starke County Sheriff’s Office, EMS and other departments that have their vehicles services at the county highway garage will have to pay the county’s labor cost for maintenance and repairs. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler was advised by the State Board of Accounts the department either has to charge the full hourly rate or not do the work. Continue reading
Weight Limit Reduced on Starke County Bridge
The Starke County Highway Department has reduced the allowable weight on a bridge northeast of Knox. Effective immediately, the bridge on County Road 25 north immediately west of 600 East has a posted limit of five tons. Highway department officials say the change is due to the recent bridge inspection.
Starke County Highway Department Begins Mowing Operations
Mowing season is under way for the Starke County Highway Department. Superintendent Rik Ritzler says a mower has been out since April 27, and the other four tractor mowers will being cutting tight-of-ways on Monday. Last year county highway crews mowed more than 8,000 lane miles of county roadways. This year Ritzler says they plan to complete at least five complete circuits of the county, for a total of 7,500 miles. Continue reading
Starke County Not Considering Wheel Tax Yet
The Starke County Highway Department still has plenty of money to keep up with planned road maintenance this year. Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners last night that includes nearly 30 miles of paving this summer and crack sealing an additional 10 miles roads. Some chip sealing work will also be done. Continue reading
