Posted on June 9, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
North Judson residents will soon have curbside recycling. The town council voted Monday to enter into a five-year contract with Republic Services. Under the arrangement, residents will get a new recycling tote. Recycling will be picked up every other week, likely starting in August.
Republic Services representative Peter Callan presented a deal where the town would see lower costs initially by locking into a five-year contract for both trash and recycling. Council member John Rowe pointed out that residents will see an increase on their bills. “So everybody’s going to be, ‘Okay, this sounds great. This is all fine,’ but then when they see these bills, everybody’s going to start asking questions,” Rowe said. “So I think everybody here needs to take this little picture and realize this is another bill that’s going to be added.”
Each household would pay a monthly fee of $2.82 initially for recycling. That’s on top of the $9.25 they’re already paying for trash pickup. However, both of those fees will go up over the five years of the contract.
Both Republic Services and the Town of North Judson hope to benefit from the arrangement. It will allow for the removal of the recycling drop-off site offered by the Starke County Environmental Management District. It’s become an eyesore, according to town officials, due to the dumping of trash and large items in the area around the dumpsters.
The Environmental Management District planned to have the dumpsters removed by July 1, but the town council wanted them gone sooner. In exchange for the five year contract on curbside trash and recycling pickup, town officials asked that Republic Services remove the recycling dumpsters and clean up the surrounding area as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Republic Services wants to add a few policies into its new contract with North Judson. Callan said the contract the company inherited when it took over Richard’s Disposal was not very clear. That’s led to some confusion when it comes to the pickup of extra trash or bulk items like furniture.
Rowe added that there were few, if any, parameters with Richard’s Disposal. “You’ve got to realize, our guy before took everything, every time,” Rowe told Callan. “It didn’t matter. He always took it. I mean, I’d pile stuff up. I’d clean my house out once a year, and it would be huge. And I’d come out – gone, all of it. We’re spoiled. So that’s why everybody’s so questioning. Not that I don’t think anybody wants to work with you guys or do it correctly, or whatever. It’s just that we’ve been so spoiled for so long, now it’s kind of like, ‘Whoa, we have parameters!'”
Callan agreed to help educate residents on Republic Service’s policies and how the new recycling service will work. Council members planned to sign the new contract during a special session this morning.
Friday, June 9, 2017
N.J.-S.P. Board Approves Added Security Measures
Posted on June 9, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board voted this week to add additional key fob entrances to the junior/senior high school. The initial system installed last fall included four doors and was designed to increase security by limiting building access to designated doors at designated times.
Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says officials have not decided yet which other doors to secure. The upgrades will be made before classes resume in August.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board voted this week to add additional key fob entrances to the junior/senior high school. The initial system installed last fall included four doors and was designed to increase security by limiting building access to designated doors at designated times.
Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says officials have not decided yet which other doors to secure. The upgrades will be made before classes resume in August.
Starke County Election Board Looks to Improve Early Voting Site
Posted on June 9, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Starke County Election Board wants to make it easier for voters to cast their ballots early at the courthouse. On Wednesday, board members discussed moving in-person absentee voting from the second floor to a currently-unused space on the first floor, according to County Clerk Vicki Cooley.
She says the change will make the voting location more accessible to people with disabilities. While the courthouse has an elevator, Cooley says it’s difficult to use and not always reliable.
The new space would be right next to the building’s main entrance. It would have room for poll workers, as well as two voting machines. Cooley adds that the room would be set aside for voting only. Voter registration and other election business would still take place in the clerk’s office upstairs.
One Election Day polling place was also reviewed by the election board Wednesday. Cooley says voting in the Oregon 2 precinct may be moved out of the Koontz Lake Fire Station to somewhere more accessible to voters with disabilities.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Starke County Election Board wants to make it easier for voters to cast their ballots early at the courthouse. On Wednesday, board members discussed moving in-person absentee voting from the second floor to a currently-unused space on the first floor, according to County Clerk Vicki Cooley.
She says the change will make the voting location more accessible to people with disabilities. While the courthouse has an elevator, Cooley says it’s difficult to use and not always reliable.
The new space would be right next to the building’s main entrance. It would have room for poll workers, as well as two voting machines. Cooley adds that the room would be set aside for voting only. Voter registration and other election business would still take place in the clerk’s office upstairs.
One Election Day polling place was also reviewed by the election board Wednesday. Cooley says voting in the Oregon 2 precinct may be moved out of the Koontz Lake Fire Station to somewhere more accessible to voters with disabilities.
More Families to Qualify for WIC Program Under Revised Poverty Guidelines
Posted on June 9, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
More Hoosiers may be able to get nutrition benefits, thanks to revised federal poverty guidelines. That’s according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
The Indiana Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program offers healthy foods, breastfeeding help, and nutrition education to mothers and young children. The new guidelines mean a family of two making $30,044 a year may be eligible, as well as a family of four making $45,510.
State health officials say those who get Medicaid or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program benefits already meet the income requirements. Complete income guidelines may be found on the Indiana State Department of Health website.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
More Hoosiers may be able to get nutrition benefits, thanks to revised federal poverty guidelines. That’s according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
The Indiana Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program offers healthy foods, breastfeeding help, and nutrition education to mothers and young children. The new guidelines mean a family of two making $30,044 a year may be eligible, as well as a family of four making $45,510.
State health officials say those who get Medicaid or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program benefits already meet the income requirements. Complete income guidelines may be found on the Indiana State Department of Health website.
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Nepotism Rule Forces EMS Director’s Resignation
Posted on June 8, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Starke County will soon be looking for a new department head as a result of the state-mandated nepotism policy. It prohibits spouses from working in a supervisory role over one another. EMS Director Keith Emigh is getting married to another member of the department this weekend. As a result, the commissioners advised he either needs to step down as the director, or she needs to find a new job. Emigh agreed during Monday’s meeting to step down as head of the service after his wedding and continue working as an EMT.
Commissioners Kathy Norem and Don Binkley both thanked him for his dedication to the county and his hard work with the EMS.
Emigh will provide formal notice of his resignation in writing. The commissioners have not yet announced a timeline for filling the position.
North Judson Council Approves Town Marshal’s Resignation, Settlement Agreement
Posted on June 8, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
North Judson has officially parted ways with former town marshal John Ramos. The town council voted Monday to accept his resignation. It came as part of a settlement agreement, which the council also approved.
In exchange for Ramos’s resignation, the town agrees to drop all of its disciplinary charges against him. Otherwise, the charges would have been made public in a disciplinary hearing.
The Town of North Judson also agrees to pay Ramos through May 30, 2017 and provide two months worth of severance pay. The town will also provide a neutral job reference, if requested, without any mention of the disciplinary charges.
The town council had voted to fire Ramos back in April. He had been serving as North Judson town marshal since July of 2016.
No timeline has been announced for choosing a replacement. For now, Officer Frank Thomas is leading the police department in an interim capacity.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
North Judson has officially parted ways with former town marshal John Ramos. The town council voted Monday to accept his resignation. It came as part of a settlement agreement, which the council also approved.
In exchange for Ramos’s resignation, the town agrees to drop all of its disciplinary charges against him. Otherwise, the charges would have been made public in a disciplinary hearing.
The Town of North Judson also agrees to pay Ramos through May 30, 2017 and provide two months worth of severance pay. The town will also provide a neutral job reference, if requested, without any mention of the disciplinary charges.
The town council had voted to fire Ramos back in April. He had been serving as North Judson town marshal since July of 2016.
No timeline has been announced for choosing a replacement. For now, Officer Frank Thomas is leading the police department in an interim capacity.
N.J.-S.P. Board Creates Deputy Treasurer Position
June 8, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board voted Tuesday night to consolidate money handling duties within the corporation. They’ve eliminated the human resources/payroll manager position and instead created a deputy treasurer/human resources job instead. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says this streamlines money handling from three people to two. She says they will focus on internal control and finance laws and serve as a backup to the business manager.
The board approved the change unanimously.
Tuesday night’s agenda also included approval of a salary schedule for non-certified employees. That was tabled, as it is not yet ready for consideration. Zupin says it will be on the agenda for the regularly-scheduled June school board meeting.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board voted Tuesday night to consolidate money handling duties within the corporation. They’ve eliminated the human resources/payroll manager position and instead created a deputy treasurer/human resources job instead. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says this streamlines money handling from three people to two. She says they will focus on internal control and finance laws and serve as a backup to the business manager.
The board approved the change unanimously.
Tuesday night’s agenda also included approval of a salary schedule for non-certified employees. That was tabled, as it is not yet ready for consideration. Zupin says it will be on the agenda for the regularly-scheduled June school board meeting.
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