The official website for the City of Knox has a brand new design.
At Thursday night’s city council meeting, Mayor Dennis Estok announced that the new website is up and running. Continue reading
Public Hearing Held Tuesday Over $600,000 OCRA Grant, Knox City Council Meets Tonight
The City of Knox plans to tackle a major project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and officials are looking to receive some financial assistance through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.
As a part of the process to apply for a $600,000 OCRA grant, a public hearing was held in City Hall on Tuesday night. Community Development Planner Emily Albaugh spoke on behalf of the Kankakee Iroquois Regional Planning Commission (KIRPC) to provide some details about the grant and the application process. Continue reading
Knox Redevelopment Pilot Project Aims to Help Revitalize the Downtown Area
A business opportunity is being offered by city officials to help revitalize the downtown area in Knox.
When the City Council met last Thursday, Mayor Dennis Estok shared that the Redevelopment Commission has purchased a building that will be utilized for a proposed pilot program. He said the goal of the program is to provide some incentives to try and induce some business downtown. Continue reading
Knox City Council Gets an Early Start on General Obligation Bond Process, at Umbaugh’s Recommendation
Knox Mayor Dennis Estok alerted city council members of some changes to the general obligation bond process when they met last Thursday.
Estok issued an updated timetable for the general obligation bonds that the city will be using to finance the purchase of a pumper truck. He informed members about a suggestion made by the city’s financial advisors that impacted the timeline. Continue reading
Knox City Council Approves Final Version of 5-Year Parks Master Plan
A public hearing over the final version of 5-Year Parks Master Plan was held prior to last Thursday’s Knox City Council meeting.
Troyer Group Landscape Architect Mike Reese led the public hearing. During this process, he’s been coordinating with city officials and gathering public input about Heritage Park, Sandy Acres, Wythogan Park and potential new park. Continue reading
Knox City Council Holds Public Hearing Over J.W. Hicks Annexation Petition
A public hearing over a petition for annexation was held when Knox City Council members met on Thursday. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford spoke on the behalf of the petitioner, J.W. Hicks Holding LLC.
Gifford explained that the Hicks organization previously purchased some property on the corner of Pacific Avenue. He said that when the company started looking into potential expansion, some records were reviewed and they discovered the property to the south, formerly the Hewlett property, was never annexed into the city. Continue reading
Knox City Council Amends Golf Cart Ordinance to Include a More Specific Registration Time Frame
Knox City Council members amended the golf cart ordinance to provide some clarification about registration when they met Thursday night.
The language in the existing ordinance simply stated that registration would be good for one calendar year. However, Mayor Dennis Estok mentioned that caused some confusion since there was no consistency with when individuals were renewing. In order to make it easier to regulate, officials decided to come up with a set time-frame that registration would last. Continue reading
Busy Agenda Provided for Tonight’s Knox City Council Meeting
Knox City Council members will meet a little bit earlier than usual in order to cover the multiple items listed on tonight’s agenda.
Prior to the start of the meeting, a public hearing over the 5-Year Park Master Plan will be held at 6:45 p.m. Members will also consider a resolution to approve the Master Plan later in the evening.
The meeting will officially commence at 7 p.m. and another public hearing will be held over the petition submitted by J.W. Hicks for annexation into the City of Knox. Continue reading
Knox Planning Commission Continues Accessory Building Discussion, Addresses Existing Violations
As the Knox Planning Commission continued their discussion over amending the accessory building ordinance, members also considered what to do about residents who are currently in violation.
During their meeting Tuesday night, President Greg Matt mentioned there are a few residences that have structures that are violating existing rules, such as one that prohibits breaking the plane of the front of the house and another that deals with proximity to sidewalks. Continue reading
Knox City Council Considers Draft Ordinance Over “Official Duties” to Address Absenteeism Concerns
Knox City Council members received a draft of an ordinance that will establish official duties of council members after their meeting last Tuesday.
Knox Mayor Dennis Estok has been coordinating with Indianapolis attorney John Molitor to construct an ordinance that lays out official council duties. The draft ordinance addresses things such as meeting attendance, consequences for multiple misses and adequate constituent representation. Continue reading
Knox Mayor Provides Update About Reducing the Scope of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation Project
Knox Mayor Dennis Estok provided a brief update about the city’s wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation project when city council members met last Tuesday.
Mayor Estok explained that the city was initially trying to obtain a USDA grant. However, that grant was not received and the project had to be reworked to be more financially feasible. Continue reading
The Deadline to Sign Up for the Knox 50/50 Sidewalk Replacement Program is Coming Up Soon
With the weather improving many people may be looking to spruce up the area around their house or business. Luckily for citizens of Knox, there is still about one week to get involved in the city’s 50/50 Sidewalk Replacement program.
Mayor Dennis Estok issued a reminder about the upcoming deadline at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
Estok explained, “The 50/50 program for residents and commercial, the due date for that is coming up pretty fast so if anybody is going to enter it, they have to come up and get the application and have it in by May 4th to be a part of that program.” Continue reading
Knox City Council Moves Forward with Bond Process Required for Fire Truck Purchase
Steps were taken by Knox City Council members this week to finalize financial arrangements related to a pumper truck that will be purchased for the Knox-Center Township Fire Department.
An appropriation hearing was held and two ordinances were considered on final readings when members met on Tuesday.
These steps were necessary so that when officials are ready to make a payment for the truck, the General Obligation bonds that are being used to finance the purchase will be sold and then the money can be appropriated to pay the fire truck company. Continue reading
Knox Mayor Reschedules City Council Meetings for the Month of May
Knox City Council meetings for the month of May had to be rescheduled so Mayor Dennis Estok filled council members in on the changes when they met Tuesday night.
Typically, Knox officials hold their city council meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. However, in May, the meetings will be held on the second and fourth Thursday which will be May 10th and May 24th. Continue reading
Knox City Council Meets Tonight
An appropriation hearing will be held over the 2018 General Obligation Bond issue when Knox City Council members meet tonight at 7 p.m.
Additionally, members will consider two ordinances on second and final reading. One ordinance is to authorize the sale of the general obligation bond for the fire truck and the other will approve the appropriation of the bond. Continue reading
Knox City Council Considers One Petition For Annexation and One for Vacation
Knox City Council amended their agenda to consider two petitions when they met last Tuesday. The first petition was from JW Hicks for voluntary annexation of a piece of real estate into the city of Knox. Members unanimously approved a motion to enter the petition into their minutes and to advertise for a public hearing over the request.
Members also addressed a request from business owner Tim Miller related a dual-purpose structure he’s trying to build on Pacific Avenue. Miller’s petition asks the city to vacate a 66-foot easement behind his property so he can meet the 40-foot set back requirement for rear-yards on commercial properties. Continue reading
Knox Clerk-Treasurer Alerts City Council Members About Several Property Liens
Knox Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston informed city council members that liens have been made against 9 properties in the city for overdue sewer and sanitation bills.
At Tuesday night’s city council meeting Clerk-Treasurer Houston shared that sewer and sanitation liens were recently filed, in accordance with state statute. He said initially 16 property owners were notified of past due bills. Continue reading
Public Vet’s Neuter Scooter Will Be in Knox This Weekend
In order to help control the cat population in the city, Neuter Scooter, a mobile clinic for spaying and neutering cats, will be in Knox beginning on Sunday, April 15th.
At Tuesday night’s Knox City Council meeting, Mayor Dennis Estok informed members that the exact location of the mobile clinic is not revealed until online registration is completed. Continue reading
Mayor of Knox Provides Community Crossings Project Update at City Council Meeting
Knox Mayor Dennis Estok alerted city council members that work has begun on a Community Crossings Grant project. At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Mayor Estok explained that crews recently began removing old curbs and sidewalks on Water Street.
As a part of the project that was submitted to INDOT and subsequently approved, curbs and sidewalks will be replaced and repaving on Water Street, as well as Main Street from U.S. 35 to Mound Street, will be completed. Continue reading
Knox City Council Meets Tonight
Knox City Council members will receive a report from Mayor Dennis Estok when they meet tonight at 7 p.m.
There is a light agenda for tonight’s meeting, with the majority of topics coming from the Mayor’s report which will include an update about the Community Crossings Grant Project on Water Street, details about an upcoming visit from the organization “Neuter Scooter” and some information about the status of the continuously absent city council member and the proposed official duties ordinance. Continue reading
