The Starke County Commissioners discussed the Stellar Communities ongoing project at the trail head at Bass Lake.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Discuss Trail Head Project at Bass Lake
Indiana Launches Program to Help Communities Leverage Federal COVID-19 Money
Indiana communities can get some “HELP” spending their American Rescue Plan money. The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs officially announced its Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) on Tuesday.
Continue readingStellar Community Designees to be Announced Tomorrow
Marshall County will find out tomorrow whether it’s been designated a Regional Stellar Community. The announcement was originally expected today, but Culver Town Council President Ginny Bess Munroe announced last week that it’s been pushed back.
Hamlet Council President Hopes Stellar Designation Would Help with Perception Issues
Hamlet Town Council President Dave Kesvormas hopes a Stellar Community designation for Starke County could help make the town more welcoming of future development. During last week’s council meeting, Kesvormas said he’s not 100-percent sold on the Stellar Communities Program, but he thinks it would help put certain things in a more favorable light.
Hamlet Council Joins Starke County’s Stellar Communities Application
The Town of Hamlet is joining Starke County’s effort to become a Stellar Community. The county government plans to team up with the county’s three incorporated municipalities to apply for a regional Stellar designation in 2019. The Hamlet Town Council voted Wednesday to move forward with the process, along with the rest of the county.
Hamlet Council to Consider Joining Starke County’s Stellar Communities Application
The Hamlet Town Council is being asked to make a decision on whether or not it will be part of Starke County’s quest to become a Stellar Community. The Starke County Economic Development Foundation has been spearheading the effort, which officials hope will open the door to additional grant opportunities and investment.
Culver Town Council to Consider Rezoning for Culver Meadows Development
The Culver Town Council will consider the next step for the proposed Culver Meadows development. It would consist of about 25 single family homes and townhouses, as well as a new gas station in the area of State Road 10 and State Road 17. During tonight’s meeting, council members will consider an ordinance on second and third reading to rezone the property to a Planned Unit Development.
Culver School Board to Consider Agreements for Help with Possible Referendum
The Culver School Board will continue preparing for a possible operational referendum tonight. Agreements with accounting firm Umbaugh and Associates and law firm Ice Miller to help with the referendum process will be up for approval. An operational referendum is designed to help a school corporation supplement its General Fund, which pays for things like teacher salaries.
Culver Town Council Approves Grant Fund Appropriations
The Culver Town Council members discussed grant funds that were appropriated during the year at their meeting this week.
Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim commented that the town was fortunate to receive several grants in 2017 that weren’t recognized in the budget. She recommended that the list be available to inform the public of all funds awarded and spent, and on the record for the Department of Local Government Finance.
Culver Considers Consultant for Stellar Projects
The Culver Town Council members considered a proposal from Mike Reese with the Troyer Group to assist the town in the many aspects required within the town’s designation as a Stellar Community.
Reese said there are a lot of components to the grant and other requirements to be considered.
Culver Officials Break Ground on Housing Project
Culver town officials, county representatives, Housing Developer Kevin Berger, and other dignitaries helped break ground on the Sand Hill Farm workforce housing development in Culver Wednesday afternoon.
The housing development includes 24 apartments that will feature affordable one, two and three bedroom units at 540 W. Jefferson Street with hopes of the project complete in 2018. Elkay, one of Culver’s largest employers, will provide the cabinetry for the units in an extensive project partnership. Continue reading
Culver Town Council Discusses Movie Theater Purchase
Culver’s former movie theater may soon be purchased by the town, but more research needs to be done before any decisions are made.
Culver Moving Ahead with Stellar Communities Application Items
The Town of Culver plans to invest nearly $25,000 into its Stellar Communities application.
Culver Town Council to Meet Tonight
The Culver Town Council will be discussing their next steps in the path to be awarded the Stellar Communities designee during their regular business meeting tonight. The town was named a finalist in Division 2 at the end of May. The name of the winning community will be announced at the end of this summer. Culver was placed in Division 2 that recognizes towns with a population less than 5,999. The Town of Culver will be competing with the Town of Churubusco in Whitley County and the City of Union City in Randolph County.
Culver School Board Receives Update on Stellar Communities Project
Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist presented an update on the Stellar Communities application to the Culver Community School Board that involves school grounds.
Improvements on a field behind the corporation office and improvements at the baseball fields are included in this year’s application. Leist said site control and which entity would be in charge of funding was brought up in last year’s process. Leist said he thinks he has found a solution and brought the idea to Interim Superintendent Chuck Kitchell.
Stellar Communities Finalists to be Announced this Month
Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist updated the town council on the Stellar Communities application when they met Tuesday night.
The letter of intent and supporting documents were turned in by the April 28 deadline. The town council members will learn if the town is a finalist on May 24.
Stellar Communities Letter of Intent Due Friday with Changes
The Culver Town Council and the Stellar Communities Committee have made some focus changes to the plans for this year’s application.
Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the council members Tuesday night that the committee revisited the proposed lighter, quicker and cheaper project. The committee has decided to go with five or six-foot letters that spell C-U-L-V-E-R rather than the historic story walk as that particular project. Utility Superintendent Bob Porter is researching the cost for this project, but Leist believes it will fall within the $5,000 requirement for that part of the application.
Culver Town Council to Hold Work Session, Regular Meeting
The Culver Town Council will hold a work session tonight to discuss the housing project for the Stellar Communities grant. It is just one of many aspects the council is looking at to include in the letter of intent which is due on Friday, April 28.
Several lighter, quicker and cheaper projects will also be included. A story walk and the installation of recycled benches along a proposed bike trail will be listed within the town’s goals for the application.
Culver Stellar Communities Committee Looks at Projects for Application
The Culver Stellar Communities Committee is working on several projects that are categorized as lighter, quicker and cheaper as required in this year’s application process.
The town is applying for the opportunity to have the distinction of being a Stellar Community and receive funding to complete a plan for community and economic development projects.
Culver Stellar Communities Committee Finalizing Letter of Intent
The Culver Stellar Communities Committee is working hard to complete paperwork necessary to announce the Town of Culver’s intentions to seek this year’s Stellar Community designation.
The purpose of the Stellar Communities Designation Program is to recognize Indiana’s smaller communities that have identified comprehensive community and economic development projects and activities in addition to a plan and key partnerships. Culver was close to winning the designation of a Stellar Community last year, but the honor was awarded to Corydon.
