Pulaski County could soon become a “Second Amendment sanctuary county.” A letter supporting the measure was read to the county commissioners Tuesday by resident Terry Young, who also happens to be running for commissioner this year.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Commissioners filled some remaining vacancies on a few boards and commissions, during last week’s meeting.
Winamac’s new police station is almost ready, but town officials still aren’t sure what they’re going to do with the current one. It has been suggested that the portion of the Winamac Municipal Utilities Complex currently used by the police department could be rented to the Pulaski County Coroner’s Office.
A special judge in Marshall County has ruled in favor of Pulaski County officials in the case of an employee terminated in 2013. Continue reading
Pulaski County Road 60 West, also known as Fitz Industrial Parkway, will be closed to through traffic, following action by the County Commissioners Monday. They voted to vacate the road between State Road 14 and 25 South. Continue reading
Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan P. Origer now has a full-time assistant. The county council approved the establishment of that position Monday evening. Continue reading
A campaign hat has led to a debate on whether clothing with political messages is allowed on Pulaski County property. The issue was brought up during the “Public Comment” portion of this week’s County Commissioners meeting, after someone was asked to remove a campaign hat during a county government meeting earlier this month. Continue reading
The Pulaski County Commissioners have approved the replacement of a piece of equipment for the county’s Highway Department. During Monday’s Commissioners meeting, Highway Superintendent Terry Ruff asked for the commissioners’ approval to replace a broken repeater, part of the radio system used to communicate with the department’s trucks. Continue reading
The latest round of candidate filings in Pulaski County sets up a general election contest for a county-wide seat. Continue reading
The initial round of candidates to declare their election intentions in Pulaski County are all incumbents. Continue reading
Pulaski County is working on a deal with an architectural engineering firm to renovate the courthouse. The County Commissioners voted to have maintenance supervisor Jeff Johnston set up a meeting with Keystone Architecture to discuss a proposed contract. Continue reading
The Pulaski County Commissioners continue to work toward a solution for housing unwanted animals. Continue reading
The Pulaski County Commissioners reorganized to start 2015 where Larry Brady was retained as commission president while Terry Young was appointed as vice president. Bud Krohn, Jr. attended his first meeting as a commissioner Monday night.
The commissioners made several appointments to boards. Mark Fox was retained as supervisor of county highways, Dave Dare was retained as building inspector, Ed Fleury was retained as veteran service officer, Jeff Johnston as maintenance director and Sarah Kasten was retained as animal control officer.
Repairs to the Pulaski County Justice Center, to the Pulaski County Courthouse and to the county home barn have been completed.
Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston told the commissioners last night that just minor items need to be finished to complete the damage sustained in a hail storm over a year ago.
“They’ve got metal coping to do on the justice center but the courthouse roof has been repaired and the justice center roof has been replaced and sealed. The barn at the county home has been repainted. The damaged section in the back and the roof have been repainted and sealed. The damaged screens were also repaired,” explained Johnson.
The Pulaski County Commissioners were asked by a citizen to address their thoughts on the use and ownership of military vehicles in the county. That update was given at the commissioner’s meeting Monday night.
EMA Director Larry Hoover was present and stated that there were no dollars spent to get these vehicles. The only money spent was for manpower and fuel to get the vehicles and bring them to Pulaski County. As Sheriff Michael Gayer explained to the Pulaski County Council members last week, fuel was spent out of his budget and no additional tax money was used in the acquisition of the military vehicles.
The Pulaski County Commissioners this week reorganized the county home board, appointing eight people to the board after receiving a number of applications. Commissioner Larry Brady said the commissioners met last week in an executive session to review the county home board, and some of the questions asked of applicants was how they see the county home in the future, past work experience, education, party affiliation, organizational skill sets, strengths and weaknesses.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday afternoon to officially open the bridge that had been under construction since March. The project had been on the drawing board for several years.
Commissioner Larry Brady attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and was happy with the work of all involved.
The Pulaski County Council and Commissioners will consider a controversial policy change during a joint meeting next week. Deputies with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office contend they lost vacation and personal time when the county switched to calculating them by hours instead of days. That’s because they work 12-hour shifts, while most other county employees work seven hours per day. Continue reading
“Working our 4 to 10 work schedule, we only came in an hour early, which works out to $422 in overtime that was paid out that morning. If we were working 8 to 4 like our current schedule is, it would have been $1,265 in overtime that morning. By working four 10’s just in one morning we saved $843,” Fox explained.
The legal battle over longtime Pulaski County Highway Superintendent Kenny Becker’s firing continues. He was reappointed by the county commissioners on January 7th, suspended with pay on January 22nd so allegations raised by a current and a former employee could be looked into and reinstated as highway manager on February 4th following an investigation by an outside consultant. Commissioner Larry Brady served as interim superintendent, and Becker was subsequently fired by the commissioners on March 4th. He’s since hired an attorney and filed a $500,000 notice of tort claim against the county commissioners for slander and defamation of character.
Pulaski County attorney Kevin Tankersley reluctantly released a copy of the consultant’s investigation report after being ordered to do so by the state Public Access Counselor’s office but redacted the names of Becker’s accusers. The new filing seeks to force the release of that information, noting “the Commissioners have failed to comply fully with the requirements of the Open Door Law.” It also states the names are necessary for possible legal action by Becker for slander and defamation of character.
