Zoning approval for the Pulaski County portion of the Mammoth Solar project has been struck down in court. An order filed this week in Pulaski Superior Court found that the developer’s application for a special exception from the board of zoning appeals failed to meet the requirements of the county’s Unified Development Ordinance.
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COVID-19 concerns will have Pulaski County’s courts moving some of their operations out of the courthouse and justice center. Circuit Court Judge Mary Welker told the county council last week that she hopes to resume jury trials in mid-to-late August, but jury selection will pose a bit of a challenge.
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Funding for Pulaski County’s COVID-19 response will be up for the county council’s approval tonight.
Continue readingPulaski County courts are adjusting their operations amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Indiana Supreme Court has granted Pulaski Circuit and Superior courts emergency relief, under Administrative Rule 17. As part of that order, no jury trials will be held in Pulaski County until after May 4.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Council wants more discussion before making any decisions about courthouse security. The county commissioners recently implemented a single point of entry and agreed to support a request for the council to approve the addition of security guards.
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The Pulaski County Council will reorganize for 2020 when members meet tonight. In addition to choosing a president and vice-president, council members will also appoint a representative to the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Council has given its permission to pay the final bills from the courthouse elevator replacement, more than a year after the work was completed. The county council voted five-to-one last week to finalize a series of additional appropriations. That included almost $57,000 for the elevator work.
Continue readingPulaski County is getting $60,000 to make it easier for people going through the court system to get the treatment they need. Superior Court Judge Crystal Brucker Kocher discussed the funding with the county council Monday.
Continue readingMore funding for court-appointed attorneys was finalized by the Pulaski County Council Monday. Council members approved a $30,000 additional appropriation for Superior Court pauper counsel. It was requested by Judge Crystal Brucker Kocher back in August.
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The Pulaski County Council got a closer look at recent spending increases Monday. Consultant Jeffrey Peters pointed out that while the county government’s annual income has remained just above $10 million over the past six years, spending went from just over $10 million in 2016 to almost $12.5 million in 2018.
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Pulaski County officials continue voicing their concerns with courthouse security. They shared some of the most pressing needs during Tuesday’s presentation on potential renovation options.
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For the third time this year, Pulaski Superior Court Judge Crystal Brucker Kocher is asking for permission to spend more money for pauper counsel. The county council has already agreed to let her spend $40,000 beyond what was initially budgeted. On Monday, she told council members she needs another $30,000.
Continue readingPulaski County is celebrating its new veterans treatment court this afternoon. Court officials are holding an open house from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. EDT at Pulaski Superior Court, with a short program at 4:15. The veterans court was officially certified this past spring, making it Indiana’s 100th problem-solving court.
Continue readingAfter the Pulaski County Commissioners disbanded the county’s IT Department, the county council continues trying to figure out how to cover technology costs going forward.
Continue readingPulaski County has fewer and fewer people, but the county’s courts and probation office are only getting busier. Chief Probation Officer Chris Allen told the county council Monday that the number of people on probation has gone up over the past three years.
Continue readingAs the Pulaski County Council continues exploring potential budget cuts, the county’s judges and chief probation officer had the chance to share their cost-saving ideas Monday. Circuit Court Judge Mary Welker told council members that there’s $50,000 in the commissioners’ budget for detention of children that she doesn’t think will be needed.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Council will continue looking for ways to cut expenses tonight. For the past month, the council has been meeting with department heads for preliminary discussions on their 2020 budgets. The goal is to avoid a $2.7 million deficit that’s projected to develop over the coming years. Meeting with the council tonight will be the two courts and Probation Office, according to the Auditor’s Office.
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Pulaski County government offices with technology needs will now have to find money to pay for them out of their own budgets. For the past few years, those expenses had come under the IT Department’s budget, but it was recently disbanded, after it apparently used up all its money for the year. Last week, the commissioners officially voted to have individual departments cover their own IT costs, until they can reach a long-term solution.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Public Library may be moving ahead with a bond issuance. Library Attorney Justin Schramm is expected to discuss it with the county council tonight. Officials have been working on plans for lead dust and asbestos remediation in nonpublic areas of the Winamac library.
Continue readingPulaski County’s judges are worried that resistance from the auditor and county attorney is putting court programs in jeopardy.
In a lengthy and heated discussion during Monday’s county commissioners meeting, Circuit Court Judge Mary Welker said the county’s seen great success with its Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, but when coordinator Dr. Natalie Daily Federer tried to renew its funding, Auditor Laura Wheeler prevented it.
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