Starke County will utilize a new vendor for railroad crossing inspections in the Industrial Park.
Continue readingStarke County Highway Superintendent Discusses Winter Operations
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler presented the county commissioners this week with an update on winter operations.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Sign Grant Funding for Court Services Programs
Starke County Court Services Director Shawn Mattraw presented grant funding paperwork to the county commissioners Monday night for the Community Corrections, jail treatment programs and Pre-Trial Probation.
Continue readingNew Ambulance to Arrive in Starke County This Week
Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary and a representative from Osage Ambulance will be making the trek to Linn, Missouri today to pick up the county’s new ambulance. It should arrive home in a couple of days.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Approve Early Voting Location
The Starke County Commissioners and the Starke County Election Board members Monday night discussed a location for early voting for the May Primary Municipal Election in the Starke County Courthouse.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Election Board members are expected to talk to the commissioners tonight about an early voting location for the May Primary Municipal Election. Early voting is usually held on the second floor of the courthouse, but with the courthouse elevator replacement project underway, the room on the first floor of the courthouse that would be used to hold early voting in this case is said to be in use by the contractors for the storage of tools and other equipment. The Election Board members believe the contractors can store their items in another location. That discussion will continue tonight.
Continue readingStarke County Election Board Discusses Courthouse Elevator Project
The Starke County Election Board members discussed, at length, Wednesday morning the elevator construction project at the Starke County Courthouse in Knox.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Discuss GPS Devices in County Vehicles
The Starke County Commissioners revisited the topic of installing GPS systems on the county vehicles.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Approve SCILL Draft Grant
The Starke County Commissioners discussed a contract with the SCILL Center for county support for programs.
Continue readingStarke County Officials Award Bid, CEDIT Appropriation for Highway Department
The Starke County Council members approved the appropriation of CEDIT funds for highway infrastructure improvements.
Continue readingStarke County Council, Commissioners to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Council members will meet tonight where they will consider a request from Sheriff Bill Dulin about the creation of new funds based on home rule local funds. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler will present a request for a CEDIT appropriation and the council will also receive an update from Coroner Jack Rosa, a discussion on personnel with Clerk Bernadette Welter Manuel, and consider a transfer request from the 2018 commissioner’s budget.
Continue readingStarke County’s New Ambulance to Arrive Soon
The new Starke County EMS ambulance should arrive in March.
Continue readingStarke County Solid Waste Building Construction Nearly Complete
The construction of the new Starke County Solid Waste Building is nearly done.
Continue readingStarke County Election Board to Meet with Microvote Representatives on Monday
The Starke County Election Board members were to speak to the commissioners Monday night about legislation concerning election cyber security, but board members will meet with Microvote representatives before moving forward with a decision.
Continue readingStarke County Highway Superintendent Updates Commissioners on Winter Operations
During the first meeting of the Starke County Commissioners to open 2019, Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler reported light winter operations due to the lack of snow. Ritzler said the picture changed drastically after that report and the information was completely opposite in his most recent update.
“The mild weather in December – as you know we reported last month we saved about $78,000 in snow and ice removal. If you look at the comparison in 2018 and 2019 in January, we went $68,000 more this month. It really highlights how our budget has to be flexible and weather really dictates our spending. I couldn’t highlight that more than in the last two months.”
Ritzler noted that crews worked 26 days in a row, but found relief this past weekend with warmer temperatures.
In an asset management chart compiled by the new Asset Manager with notes submitted by Ritzler, new drivers improved and the wet snow proved to be hard on the mailboxes. On Wednesday, Jan. 30, the subzero temperatures caused precautions to keep trucks operating as drifts formed from winds. The overall performance and attitude of the drivers was rated as excellent.
Crews continue to maintain equipment in between storms and monitor roads with snow melt and rainfall.
The commissioners expressed their appreciation to the highway department and all emergency services for their efforts during the inclement weather experienced in January.
Starke County Sheriff Presents Proposed Ordinance Amendments to Commissioners
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin presented several ordinance amendments to put more teeth into enforcement.
Continue readingOutside Company to Evaluate Starke County Radio Communication System
An outside company will be evaluating Starke County’s radio system for the firefighters in order to come to a firm conclusion on what issues plague the radio communication with the county and firefighters and the firefighters themselves.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Commissioners will meet today where Sheriff Bill Dulin will present several ordinance amendments and additional ordinances for consideration. He stated previously that those ordinances will address noise, animals running at large, vicious dogs, false alarms, and the golf cart ordinance concerning open containers.
Continue readingProposed Senate Bill May Force Replacement of Starke County’s Voting Machines
Plans to upgrade Starke County’s voting machines may be put on hold, pending the outcome of a bill in the Indiana Senate. Senate Bill 570 proposes a number of new requirements related to election cyber security. Notably, any electronic voting systems would have to have a “voter verifiable paper audit trail,”starting in 2022.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Support Prairie Trails Grant Application
The Starke County Commissioners will submit a jurisdictional letter of support toward the Prairie Trails Club’s application for the state’s Recreational Trails Grant Program. Governor Holcomb has set aside $90 million in grant funding for walking and biking trails to connect throughout the state.
Continue reading