Starke County is working to make one of its government buildings more accessible to people with disabilities. Last week, the county commissioners approved the construction of a sidewalk ramp in front of the Annex 2 building, which houses the health and probation departments, Starke County Community Corrections and Purdue Extension.
Starke County Council to Hold Public Hearing Tonight on North Judson-San Pierre Budget
A public hearing on the North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation’s proposed 2018 budget will be held during tonight’s Starke County Council meeting.
Highway Superintendent Updates Commissioners on Bridge Projects
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler updated the county commissioners this week on work done on deficient bridges in the county.
Only four deficient bridges remain. He said plans are complete for bridge #58 on County Road 800 South over Bogus Run, bridge #36 on County Road 25 North over Eagle Creek and bridge #154 on County Road 100 East over the Robbins Ditch. Those projects will be bid in September and finished next year.
Starke County Forest to Proceed with Timber Sale
Highway Superintendent Completes ADA Audits of County Buildings
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler reported to the Starke County Commissioners Monday night that the county buildings fared pretty well during a recent ADA audit.
Ritzler said only minor issues were found.
“I did an initial ADA audit of the courthouse, annex building, annex 2 with Jim Coad, I did the highway garage myself, and did the justice center with Tony Mildice,” explained Ritzler. “There were no deficiencies found at the justice center. Three were found in the new annex building, four in the courthouse, three in the annex and two at the garage. Most of those were just minor things like signage and counter height. The only major one that we had there was no curb cut at the new annex building in the front.”
ADA/Title VI Implementation Plan Presented to Starke County Commissioners
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler presented a plan to the Starke County Commissioners this week on updating some ADA requirements in terms of communication.
Ritzler commented that the American Disabilities Act forms on the website are outdated and he’s been in touch with the IT Director to work on getting those forms changed and add some required elements to the website.
County Council Nixes North Judson Paving From Funding Disbursement Request
Starke County government officials want to wait on an upgrade to a road in the North Judson Industrial Park proposed by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. Continue reading
Starke County Officials Tabulating Road Damage Caused by NIPSCO
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler is keeping close tabs on the damage the NIPSCO transmission line project in California and North Bend Townships is doing to local roads.
He says the utility company previously agreed to reimburse the county for damages caused by their equipment. Continue reading
Starke Highway Superintendent Readies First Hot-Mix Road Projects
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler hopes to start on the county’s first new hot mix asphalt road soon. He told the county commissioners Monday the plan is to improve 300 East through the Knox Industrial Park from State Road 8 to the railroad tracks. Continue reading
Starke County Highway Superintendent Elaborates on Road Funding
Starke County will be able to implement plans to pave 123 miles of local roads with asphalt over the next decade without raising taxes, according to Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler. He presented options to the county council Monday. They include using money from the Local Roads and Streets and County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) funds to draw down a maximum three-to-one funding match from the state. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners Adopt Truck Route Ordinance
Starke County’s truck route ordinance will take effect June 1 following adoption Monday by the county commissioners. It applies to all vehicles with a gross combined vehicle weight of more than 38,000 pounds, which is the same standard the state uses. They are prohibited from using light vehicle routes unless a free permit is issued by the highway department or they qualify for an exemption. Registered farm vehicles, delivery trucks and school buses are exempt. Continue reading
Starke County Truck Route Ordinance Set for Adoption Tonight
The Starke County Commissioners will consider a proposed heavy truck route ordinance on third and final reading when they meet tonight.
It looks to maximize three-to-one matching money from the state to pave nearly 120 miles of county roads with hot mix asphalt over the next decade.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says the eventual goal is to have all locations in the county within a mile of a hot-mix asphalt road. Right now Starke County has 10 miles of locally maintained hot mix asphalt roads. Continue reading
Mowing Season Gets Underway for Starke County Highway Department
Mowing crews from the Starke County Highway Department are making their first pass of the year. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners Monday six mowing tractors and two brush choppers are actively clearing rights of way. Continue reading
Starke County Highway Superintendent Hones Truck Route Ordinance
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler wants to hear from local farmers and over-the-road truck drivers before presenting the final truck route ordinance to the county commissioners for approval.
During a public hearing Monday evening, he stressed farm vehicles will be exempt as long as they have a farm plate issued by the BMV. Continue reading
Starke County May Be Able to Accelerate Bridge Replacements
The number of structurally deficient bridges in Starke County could drop sooner than anticipated thanks to the road funding bill passed by the Indiana General Assembly. It includes money for Community Crossings projects and a three-to-one state match for counties with populations under 50,000. Continue reading
Proposed Starke County Truck Route Ordinance Set for Second Reading Tonight
The Starke County Commissioners will consider a proposed truck route ordinance on second reading when they meet this evening.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler has been working with a committee comprised of county officials, farmers, Sheriff Bill Dulin and Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver on the policy.
The eventual goal is to have several local hot-mix asphalt roads to accommodate heavy truck traffic in addition to the highways that crisscross Starke County. Ritzler says eventually all locations in the county will be within a mile of such a road. Continue reading
Starke Officials Still Working on Proposed Truck Route Ordinance
Starke County officials are still refining a proposed truck route ordinance before scheduling a public hearing on the measure.
The measure under consideration restricts routes for vehicles with a gross weight of more than 36,000 pounds to specified county-maintained roads or highways. Continue reading
Starke County Park Board Now Eligible for DNR Grants, Plans Signage for County Forest
The Starke County Park Board can now apply for grant funding from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Park Board President Debbie Mix has received notification that the DNR has accepted the board’s five-year plan. That means Starke County is now eligible for grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Continue reading
Late Winter Storm Kept County Highway Crews Busy
Winter operations picked up for the Starke County Highway Department last month. Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners they had five snow events in March. The most significant occurred on March 15th, with up to 11 inches of snow recorded in a few areas of the county. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners Consider Truck Route Ordinance
The Starke County Commissioners have taken a first step towards adopting a truck route ordinance. It restricts routes for vehicles with a gross weight of more than 36,000 pounds to specified county-maintained roads or highways. Continue reading
