Bill to Reduce Size of Kankakee River Basin Commission Advances to State Senate

Posted on January 31, 2019
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

State Rep. Gutwein presents Kankakee River Basin legislation at the Statehouse on Jan. 24
A bill to restructure the Kankakee River Basin Commission is advancing in the Indiana General Assembly. House Bill 1270 authored by State Representative Doug Gutwein of Francesville would cut the number of members from 24 down to nine.

He says the change would allow the commission to respond to issues more quickly. “The flooding last February caused severe damage to homes and farms and prevented the farmers from getting into the fields and planting crops on time,” Gutwein said in a press release. “To better protect the homes and livelihoods of Hoosiers living in the area, we need to take steps to prevent and manage future floods.”

Under the proposal, each of the eight counties in the Kankakee and Yellow river basins would appoint one representative to the new commission. Those include Starke, Marshall, and LaPorte. The ninth member would be appointed by the governor.

Additionally, Kankakee and Iroquois counties in Illinois would get two non-voting representatives. Meanwhile, any county surveyors who aren’t appointed to the new commission would have the chance to serve on a technical advisory committee.

The bill was approved by the Indiana House of Representatives last week. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

N.J.-S.P. Board Ratifies Restructuring

May 11, 2016AuthorMary Perren, WKVI 

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board Monday night took steps to officially reflect their grade restructuring. The move of 6th grade to the elementary school and transition to a combined junior/senior high school requires some changes in order to conform to state law.

The school board passed the necessary resolutions to eliminate the current middle school format and reconfigure North Judson-San Pierre Elementary to a K through 6 facility. It will still be housed in the current elementary school building during the 2016-17 school year to allow time for the reconfiguration of the current middle school space.

The board did approve the relocation of the elementary school to 950 Campbell Drive on July 1, 2017. Interim Superintendent Dr. Robert Boyd says that will allow time for the existing middle school building to be reconfigured to accommodate younger students and make room for Title 1 and other programs.

Another resolution to reconfigure the high school to a 7-12 grade facility and rename it North Judson-San Pierre Junior/Senior High School was also approved unanimously.

The school board also took the necessary action to transfer extracurricular accounts to the elementary and junior/senior high accounts and the textbook account into the North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation Budget Account once old middle school accounts are reconciled and the necessary paperwork is turned in to the state.

The North Judson-San Pierre Middle School bank account will be closed, and the name on the existing high school account will be changed to the North Judson-San Pierre Junior/Senior High School.