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Government & School Board

IPFW professor speaks to county Democrats

Andrew Downs
Photo provided.

The Huntington County Democrat Party will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 6:30 p.m. at the Huntington Branch of the Huntington City-Township Public Library.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Andrew Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. He is also an associate professor of political science at IPFW.

Downs will speak on the state of Indiana politics and the challenges the Democrat Party faces in the 2018 elections.

The meeting is open to the public.

Commissioners to hold exec session today

The Huntington County Commissioners will meet in an executive session today, Monday, Oct. 30, at 8:30 a.m. in the Huntington County Courthouse, Commissioners Room 103A, 201 N. Jefferson St., Huntington.

The Commissioners will meet with respect to interviews and negotiations with industrial or commercial prospects or agents of industrial or commercial prospects.

Executive sessions are closed to the public.

Pace Chevrolet hosting Trunk or Treat Halloween Extravaganza on Oct. 31

Pace Chevrolet is hosting a Trunk or Treat Halloween Extravaganza on Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A free event for kids of all ages, there will be trick or treating, prizes and giveaways.

Bicycle prizes will be awarded to the boy and girl whose costumes are voted the best. The prizes are sponsored by Pace Chevrolet and 24/7 Towing.

For the adults, there will be giveaways of automotive detail kits and two five-quart oil changes with tire rotation.

Banks votes to increase sanctions against Iran

Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted Wednesday, Oct. 25, to increase sanctions on Iran’s missile program.

“Iran became increasingly bold in the Middle East and Syria under the previous administration, and we cannot allow its aggression to go unchecked,” Banks said in a news release. “By enacting stronger sanctions against Iran and those who seek to help the Iranian regime acquire nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, Iran will be held accountable.

Six attorneys vying to replace Hakes as judge when he steps down Dec. 31

Six attorneys are vying to be named judge of the Huntington Circuit Court when longtime Judge Tom Hakes steps down from the bench later this year.

Jill M. Denman, Jamie Groves, Stefan J. Poling, Davin G. Smith, Brett Vanlandingham and Justin R. Wall have submitted applications to Gov. Eric Holcomb to be considered for the judgeship.

Hakes submitted his letter of resignation to Holcomb in August, setting his last day as Dec. 31.

Hakes has served as judge in the Huntington Circuit Court since June of 2006, when he was appointed as full-time judge pro tem.

School board wraps up months of work with new districts

The Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees wrapped up months of work, deliberation and often frustration Monday, Oct. 23, settling on new district boundaries to begin with the 2018-19 school year.

The changes reflect the closing at the end of this year of Lancaster and Northwest elementary schools, the reopening next fall of Horace Mann Elementary and the future new school to be built in Roanoke.

The vote was 6-1, with Board President Mathew Roth voting against the motion to change elementary school boundaries.

Andrews to pursue OCRA grant to build storm water infrastructure

The Andrews Town Council is interested in applying for a grant that would help fund the construction of storm water infrastructure.

The board met with Region 3A Development and Regional Planning Commission earlier Monday, Oct. 23, to discuss pursuing a grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).

Council President Bill Johnson said during the council’s regular meeting that evening that Region 3A had contacted OCRA to determine if the town would need to conduct another income survey before applying for the grant.

Council picks ex-librarian to serve on HCTPL board

Faced with deciding between two applicants for a spot on the Huntington City-Township Public Library board, members of the Huntington County Council selected the applicant who attended their meeting on Monday, Oct. 23.

Daryl Shrock, a retired librarian who described herself as an avid reader, won the unanimous approval of the council.

The second applicant was Terri Salzano-Sees, of Huntington. She did not attend the council’s meeting.

Markle wastewater, water rates to increase by 20 percent

Gary Girvin (right), of Fishers and formerly of Huntington County, signs the papers donating the Draper Cabin owned by his family over to the Town of Markle, as Markle Town Council President Jeff Humbarger looks on. The cabin is expected to be ready for tours next year.
Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

It could have gone higher, but the Markle Town Council preliminarily decided at its meeting Wednesday, Oct. 18, to hold increases on wastewater and water rates to 20 percent, over the objections of the town’s clerk-treasurer.

Councilmen based their decision on the completed water and wastewater utility studies performed by H.J. Umbaugh & Associates, which note that Markle currently has the second-lowest rates among 18 Hoosier towns surveyed of similar size.

Roanoke council hires engineering firm for street improvement project bid documents

The Roanoke Town Council hired civil engineering firm Fleis & VandenBrink to prepare the bid documents for street improvement projects in town next year at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

The town will pay $49,992 to Fleis & VandenBrink for its services, which will include the drafting of bidding paperwork, drawings and specifications for the projects, of which there will be six.

Roanoke was awarded a Community Crossings Matching Grant totaling $567,232.50 in September that will fund the majority of the work. The total cost of the projects will be $756,310.

Andrews Town Council reviews 2018 budget, rules on house demo

The Andrews Town Council reviewed the town’s proposed budget for 2018 during a public hearing at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

The budget comes out to $912,066. The maximum estimated funds to be raised are $348,736.

The public can view the budget by going online to budgetnotices.in.gov or by visiting town hall at 66 N. Main St.

A vote on the budget’s adoption will be taken at council’s next meeting, Oct. 23.

Huntington County Commissioners to meet in exec session on Monday

The Huntington County Commissioners will meet in executive session on Monday, Oct. 16, at 1:30 p.m. in Room 103A of the Huntington County Courthouse.

The commissioners plan to discuss strategy regarding the implementation of security systems or a governing body of a political subdivision.

Executive sessions are closed to the public.

Curbside recycling program gets initial approval from Hgtn. council

Rules for a curbside recycling program earned initial approval from the Huntington Common Council on Tuesday, Oct. 10, moving the program one step closer to implementation.

The ordinance, a companion to a previously-enacted ordinance setting out fees for the recycling program, must still be voted on a second time, and that vote could occur during the council's next meeting on Oct. 31.