North Judson Town Board Holds Public Budget Hearing

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board

The North Judson Town Board last week held their first and second readings of an amendment to the 2012 salary ordinance. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the amendment allows for the addition of a part-time clerical position in both the clerk-treasurer’s office and the billing office.

Henry explained that the part-time employee would split his or her time between the two offices, but will spend the majority of his or her time in the clerk-treasurer’s office. The employee will be trained in both departments, and will be cross-trained on the billing side to allow the employee to substitute for the billing clerk during vacations. Henry says this employee will be similar to a floating employee between the two departments, but will concentrate on the clerk-treasurer’s side.

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North Judson To Hold IACT Roundtable in October

Posted on Author WKVI

North Judson will soon be the host of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns quarterly roundtable.

Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says she and town board president Wendy Hoppe had attended the previous roundtable in Demotte in August, and she says each roundtable has a different topic. The August roundtable was focused on budgets, and Henry says she asked the organization if the North Judson Town Board could hold one of the upcoming roundtables in North Judson.

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American Community Survey Causes Scam Scare

Posted on Author WKVI

If you have received what you suspected was a fraudulent phone call from someone claiming to be with the U.S. Census Bureau, worry not; it could very well have been a legitimate survey.

North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said that an elderly citizen had contacted the North Judson Town Hall and stated that she had been contacted numerous times by someone claiming to represent the U.S. Census Bureau and requested information for the American Community Survey. The woman said she was concerned that it was a fraudulent phone call.

Fortunately, Henry contacted the U.S. Census Bureau and discovered that the organization was, indeed, performing the survey. However, no news outlets were notified of the survey, causing those who were contacted to be slightly suspicious.

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No Smoking On North Judson Town Property

Posted on Author WKVI

The town of North Judson’s no-tobacco ordinance is now in effect, prohibiting smoking or any other form of tobacco use in municipal buildings or properties, including parks. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the ordinance prohibits smoking and tobacco use on the premises of municipal properties or within eight feet of their entrances.

The ordinance also prohibits smoking in town parks and their park shelters or within 15 feet of the shelters.

The North Judson Town Council held the first and second readings of the no-tobacco ordinance at their meeting on Aug. 20, and Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the council held the final reading on the ordinance at their meeting on Sept. 4.

The ordinance is more restrictive than the state’s Smoke Free Air Law, but only applies to municipal properties.

North Judson Town Council Reviews Proposed Golf Cart Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Town Council continued their discussion this week regarding the proposed golf cart ordinance. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained that this seems to be a rather hot topic between communities, as Marshall County and several other communities have recently passed golf cart ordinances restricting their use.

However, Henry says that the ordinance they have in mind defers to the state law on most points, but does allow golf carts to be operated on municipal streets. Henry says the operators of the golf carts must be licensed and have insurance coverage on the vehicle, and it will also need to be registered with the clerk-treasurer’s office.

Councilman Tim Cummins presented a draft copy of the proposed ordinance to the council this week, and provided copies for audience members interested in reading it. The council will review the draft and note any necessary revisions, and Henry says it’s likely they will have their first and second readings of the ordinance at their next meeting on Sept. 17. However, if there are several revisions necessary, the readings may be postponed until the following meeting.

North Judson Town Council Discusses “Urban Chicken” Issue

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Town Council this week discussed what some council members are referring to as the “urban chicken” issue. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained that because the town does not have an ordinance regulating farm animals within town limits, the council will be reviewing information concerning domestic and farm animals in the town. The town currently has an ordinance for domestic animals, and Henry said they may revise the ordinance to regulate urban farm animals as well.

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North Judson Household Causes Sewer Clog Over The Weekend

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board

One North Judson resident had to deal with a smelly situation Sunday night after a lift station pump plugged up, causing sewage to seep up into their home. North Judson Town Council President Wendy Hoppe commended Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann and his three-man crew for their quick response and diligent effort in rectifying the situation, which was reportedly caused by a North Judson resident who had flushed an item down the toilet that had clogged up the sewer system.

The lift station pump was permanently damaged from the clog, and Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry emphasized the fact that nothing should be flushed down the toilet except for human waste and toilet paper. She says that while an item may be labeled as “flushable,” that’s not always the case. The item may flush down the toilet, but it’s not unlikely that it will get stuck in the sewer system and cause further problems down the line.

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Town of North Judson To Draft No-Tobacco Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board

The Town of North Judson has announced that it is in compliance with the new smoke-free air law as required by the state, but the town board has announced plans to draft their own, more stringent no-tobacco policy.

Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says that the ordinance would not only prevent smoking, but all use of tobacco where smoking is prohibited. She says the ordinance would include park shelters because they are currently not covered by the state law, which only applies to enclosed structures. The board is interested in including these shelters in the no-tobacco policy because they feel the shelters are there for people to enjoy, and the board feels they have the right to enjoy them without having to tolerate tobacco smoke close to them.

The board will soon have the ordinance drafted and then read for approval at an upcoming meeting.

Henry says the board also commended the town’s street department on the good job they did over the weekend in cleaning up brush and debris from last weekend’s storms.

North Judson Residents Receive Sprinkling Water Discount

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board

In an effort to reduce the cost of watering lawns with sprinklers, the Town of North Judson has applied nearly $6000 in sprinkling rate credits. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says this last billing gave $5991.28 in credits to their water customers who have been using sprinklers to keep their lawns watered.

Henry explained that because the water that is used to sprinkle lawns doesn’t go through the sewer system, the sewage charges are reduced. She says the discounted sprinkling rate is applied to customers that have used more than their average amount of water, and the credit is applied automatically.

With this hot, dry summer, it’s the perfect incentive for residents to sprinkle their lawns and bring some green back to their grass. Henry says this reduced rate is a big service to the community because it encourages them to water their yards and keep grass and plants from becoming too dry from the arid heat.

North Judson To Hold Two Public Hearings June 4

Posted on Author WKVI
Doug Vessely
North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely

North Judson Town Marshall Doug Vessely presented an estimate to the North Judson Town Board this week for a new squad car. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says that no contracts have been signed, but Vessely wanted to give the board an idea on how much a new squad car would cost because of some repairs that are needed on a 2005 squad car. Henry says the board will likely have the squad car repaired for now, and may set aside money in their 2013 budget for a new squad car after Vessely returns with quotes from dealerships.

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North Judson Town Council Discusses No-Smoking Signage

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Town Council last week discussed the possibility of putting up signage prohibiting smoking near shelters in the town park. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says that matter was tabled because, as of July 1, House Bill 1149 would take effect– a bill preventing smoking in many public areas. The council will investigate whether or not parks are included in that bill.

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Mint Festival Planning Underway

Posted on Author WKVI

Planning for the 35th Annual North Judson Mint Festival is in full swing, says Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry. The festival will take place on Father’s Day weekend, as always, June 15, 16, and 17.

The committee is currently working on organizing the Mint Pageant, where people will vote for the Mint King and Queen, Prince and Princess, as well as Little Miss and Little Mister. The pageant will take place Sunday, May 20, at 6 p.m. in the North Judson – San Pierre High School Auditorium. For more information or to find out how to compete, contact Cortny Barnes at (574) 207-3719.

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North Judson Railroad Committee Seeks Grant to Repair Crossing

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Railroad Committee is currently working on gathering funding for repairs on the U.S. 30 railroad crossing. Because a lot of truck traffic goes over the railroad, it has recently fallen into a minor state of disrepair — and with an expected increase in traffic passing over that crossing, the repairs are important.

Unfortunately, the repairs are not expected to be cheap. The committee is working on finding grants to fund the repairs, but the total cost is yet unknown.

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Public Meeting Held Regarding Five-Member North Judson Town Board

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board

The public meeting regarding the transition of the North Judson Town Board from a three-member board to a five-member board was held Thursday, providing information regarding the transition to all those in attendance. Council President Wendy Hoppe and Councilman Tim Cummins were present, along with Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry, Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski, IACT Field Services Manager Tim Bredeweg, and a number of community members were present as well.

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North Judson Unable to Provide Funds Toward Starke Co. Fireworks

Posted on Author WKVI
Front Row: Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry, Board members Ralph T. Cummins, Wendy Hoppe, and Jane Ellen Felchuk, Attorney Cassandra Hine. Back Row: Town Marshal Doug Vessely, Fire Chief Joe Leszek and Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann. Photo by Town Photographer Peggy Bohac

Bad news for the Starke County Fireworks: the town of North Judson will be unable to provide monetary support for the event. According to Henry, the board contacted the State Board of Accounts and were told there are a significant number of conditions that must be met, including the adoption of a town ordinance indicating what any fundraisers would support. Ultimately, the board decided that they will be unable to provide the support.

A new banner will fly above the Highland Cemetery in North Judson, informing passersby that the cleanup of decorations should be completed by April 15 in order for the mowing crew to mow the cemetery without the risk of damaging any decorations. Previously, the town would only put advertisements in local media such as newspapers and radio, but the banner will help inform the public of the deadline to remove decorations.

The individual to handle the mowing of the cemetery is still unknown, as the man who previously handled the mowing has told the board that he will be unable to keep the same cost as last year to handle the mowing due to rising fuel costs. As a result, the town board must receive sealed bids for the mowing and decide to whom to award the bid.

No Budget Cuts for the Town of North Judson

Posted on Author WKVI
Front Row: Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry, Board members Tim Cummins, Wendy Hoppe and Jane Ellen Felchuk, and Attorney Cassandra Hine. Back Row: Town Marshal Doug Vessely, Fire Chief Joe Leszek and Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann. Photo by North Judson Photographer Peggy Bohac

North Judson Town Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said she received notification that the Town’s budget has been approved and no cuts were ordered.

The Town Board this week discussed the terms of members on the Board of Zoning Appeals, Planning Commission and the Unsafe Hearing Authority. The members discussed staggering the terms so members with knowledge can help new ones entering into a term. Currently, all terms are up at once and when new members are elected to a board, there is a learning curve and the Town Board feels that if the terms were staggered, some experienced members could help the inductees and have smoother transition.

No decisions were made during the meeting and the information was taken under advisement.

North Judson Town Board Receives Fire Department Update, Independent Audit to be Conducted

Posted on Author WKVI

Fire Chief Joe Leszek approached the North Judson Town Council and informed them that the hose training for the department was completed in December and everything is up-to-date. However, Leszek had some bad news for the board: Firefighter Todd Jackson was injured on the job recently. He refused medical treatment at the scene as the injury was not life-threatening; however, his injury worsened over the next day and he required medical attention. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said she will follow up with a workman’s compensation inquiry.

The council also discussed the possibility of conducting an independent audit. Henry told the council that it is recommended by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns to have an independent audit conducted as soon as possible, but Board Member Jane Ellen Felchuk disagreed, saying she felt it might not be necessary, especially when considering the cost. Previously, the cost for an independent audit was about $2,500, and is usually done every two years. A motion was made by Board member Tim Cummins to have an independent audit conducted, and it was approved.