PC-CARE (Pulaski CountyCenter for Agriculture-Renewable Energy): CDC director Nathan Origer reported to the board that the county commissioners, at their first 2017 meeting, rescinded a 2016 decision providing for the possibility of selling part of the county farm property, eliminating that as a potential funding source for acquisition of the Medaryville property for the west-side industrial park site.

Origer has presented a rough timeline for development and marketing of the property to the county council, per council member Linda Power Nunez’s request. He also explained the benefits and detriments of including acquisition costs in a grant, as opposed to buying the ground with cash alone. (Origer reviewed with the CDC that paying cash for the land would cost the county less money in the long run while also allowing for greater flexibility in proceeding.) Council president Jay Sullivan suggested that discussion regarding this project should continue at a joint commissioners/council session.

Origer expressed frustration with elected officials’ refusal either to commit to the project or to kill it. Discussion followed that the council needs to have the urgency of moving forward pressed upon it, and also that community supporters should be encouraged to speak to officials about the need for this project.

 

Old Business

Hometown Collaboration Initiative:The final routes have been agreed upon, and all that remains to be done is numbering them and receiving INDOT approval for including stretches of state highways in two routes. Upon completion of these tasks, staff will proceed with the production of signs, bike-route–network brochures, and route-direction cards. Mrs. Hinkle will contact potential Tourism Advisory Council members in the coming weeks.

Wage-and-benefit survey: The Pulaski County Human Resource Group’s survey committee met in December. Origer has been working on developing the survey document, and the Human Resource Group will meet and discuss this project later in January.

Francesville and Winamac Main Street organizations: The director reported that WOW! (Wander Our Winamac!) will hold its annual general-membership meeting in January, preparing for 2017 projects, and working to build its membership. CDC board member Darlene Mellon noted that Francesville’s UpTown Project has scheduled one or two events for each month to attract attention, to keep progress moving, and to bring positive change to the community.

Adopt-a-River program: Origer has passed this project on to Mrs. Hinkle, who will resume work in the coming weeks.

Pulaski County Industrial Leadership Certificate program: Discussions will continue at the February meeting of the Pulaski County Industrial Forum.

Leadership-seminar proposal: The leadership trainer whose proposal had been presented at the November meeting will speak to attendees of the January Human Resource Group and February Industrial Forum meetings.

 

New Business

2016 financial review:  Origer presented an expanded version of the month-end report usually provided as part of the consent agenda. He highlighted that about 55 percent of the 2016 budget had been returned unexpended, the CEDIT Fund had a current balance of nearly $2.1 million (including 2017 departmental appropriations, which he estimated to be between $600,000 and $650,000, and $580,000 invested in a certificate of deposit), and that all active Revolving Loan Fund borrowers were up-to-date on repayment.

Discussion followed regarding the healthy balance of the CEDIT Fund and apparent reluctance on the part of the county with respect to spending this money for investment in growth, and whether or not this represented questionable stewardship of tax revenues. CDC president Gregg Malott added that a cause for concern is that development costs are likely to increase with each passing year, making money held so tightly less valuable as time elapses.

2017 Pulaski County Economic Summit: The annual Summit will be March 14, in Medaryville. Origer solicited input regarding facility, caterer, and guest speaker and topic. Suggestions followed for facilities and meals.Potential guest-speaker topics included industrial development, agricultural economic development, generational trends, and Tippecanoe River State Park or Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. Origer will follow up on these and asked for continued input prior to the February meeting.

2017 tourism marketing: Noting that the marketing budget for 2017 is $45,000, the director emphasized staff belief in the need to continue and to amplify tourism-marketing efforts.

A proposal for 4,074 television-commercial airings across Chicagoland, plus online impressions, from Comcast Spotlight for $22,022.45 was presented with the director’s and Mrs. Hinkle’s blessing. A number of options from WCIU-TV were also presented; Director Origer expressed reservations about the narrow scope and fairly low viewership, but did note that WCIU-TV offered the opportunity for an in-studio live conversation about Pulaski County in addition to the airing of commercials.

Print and digital marketing opportunities in the Fort Wayne region through Fort Wayne Magazine were also reviewed. The consensus opinion was to move forward with the Comcast proposal, to continue discussions with WCIU, and to move forward with a pared down version of the Fort Wayne plan.

Mrs. Mellon suggested investigating Indiana Beach’s marketing strategies and avenues and piggy-backing off of those if possible; board member Andrew Fritz proposed movie-theater ads, perhaps in Valparaiso, Rensselaer, or both; and board member Dave Zeltwanger proposed revisiting discussions about billboard advertising.

2017 strategic visioning: Given the apparent apprehension on the part of elected officials toward the west-side rail-served industrial park project; that this project is the keystone of the 2010 strategic plan; that often staff work on projects as they come, without always having a neat framework for setting priorities; and that efforts may be required to ensure a positive relationship between the CDC and commissioners, the director suggested that engaging in a strategic-planning process would be advisable. Further discussion was tabled until February, but the consensus agreement was that a visioning committee should be established.

 

CDC Board Membership

It was reported the county council will retain Doug Roth as its representative to the CDC board. The county commissioners have not announced if former commissioner Larry Brady will finish his term or be replaced by a sitting commissioner.

New members welcomed to the CDC board, effective March 1, are at-large members Ross Davis of BraunAbility and Samantha Williams, director of Purdue Extension – Pulaski County.

Gregg Malott's term renewal, will be effective March 1. John Plowman has been reappointed as representative of the Winamac Town Council, and Darlene Mellon will again represent the Francesville Town Council.

The CDC is seeking a representative from the agriculture community to succeed Andrew Fritz who is completing his two terms.

 

Local News Briefs

Spring property taxes due Monday, May 12

Pulaski County taxpayers are reminded by the Pulaski County Treasurer's Office that the spring installment of property taxes are due Monday, May 12.

The taxes may be paid at the County Building (Rm. 307) or County Highway Garage in Winamac, or at several banks around the county.

Yakym district staff to hold local mobile office hours May 7 in Medaryville

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) has announced that his staff will hold mobile office hours in Pulaski County May 7, in Medaryville.

Yakym’s mobile office will visit throughout Indiana's Second District in May to assist constituents with casework questions.

Stop signs to be added to two county intersections

The Pulaski County Highway Department will add stop signs Monday (April 28) to two county road intersections – one in southeast Rich Grove Township, and the second in northwest Monroe Township.

The new stop signs were approved April 14 in an ordinance adopted by the county commissioners.

PMH seeks community input identifying health needs of local communities

Survey deadline May 17

WINAMAC - Pulaski Memorial Hospital has announced the launch of its 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, a comprehensive initiative aimed at identifying and addressing the most pressing health needs of our local communities.

“Community feedback is essential” said Hospital CEO Steve Jarosinski. ”PMH will be gathering input from residents, local organizations, community leaders, and even other area healthcare professionals to better understand the health challenges and opportunities across the region.”

PCPL lists programs, activities for April

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its programs and activities for April. They include a celebration of National Library Week, a kids’ caring for the environment program, a Ladybug Welcome Sign craft, and an Earth Day craft.

For more information on any program, call the library at 574-946-3432 or visit the library’s website at www.pulaskicounty.lib.in.us.

 

Indiana News

Indiana State Parks offer free admission May 4 for ‘Welcome Weekend’

INDIANAPOLIS - Celebrate the start of the outdoor recreation season with free admission to all Indiana State Parks properties Sunday, May 4, the second day of “Welcome Weekend” and the opening day of Visit Indiana Week.

Find an Indiana State Parks property and what’s new there at on.IN.gov/stateparks. If you’ve never visited, on.IN.gov/dnr-welcome offers helpful tips. 

Pulaski County March unemployment rate drops to 3.1%

Pulaski County's unemployment rate dropped to 3.1 percent in March, down from 4.3 percent in February, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported Monday, (April 21). The rate was 3.7 percent a year ago.

The county had 6,586 employed persons in a labor force of 6,795 in March. In February those numbers were 6,533 of 6,830. A year ago the numbers were 6,302 of 6.546. 

Braun signs package of executive orders to ‘Make Indiana Healthy Again’

INDIANAPOLIS (April 15) – Gov. Mike Braun Tuesday signed a landmark package of executive orders with initiatives to improve Indiana’s health and well-being.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz were in attendance to support Indiana’s initiative. Indiana now joins a number of states that have embraced, through legislation or executive orders, Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement.

Indiana Health News

Measles cases climb to 800 nationwide; 8 in Indiana

Also: respiratory illness updates

INDIANAPOLIS (April 21) — The Indiana Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of measles and working with local health officials to help stop the spread of infection. The current reported cases are connected to each other but at this time there are no known links to outbreaks in other states.

Eight cases have been reported in the Indiana, all in Allen County.

 

Post News

Economic Summit addresses county's financial health, state budget

'Making a place where we choose to live'
With a major restoration of the county courthouse nearing completion and a host of additional business and community projects under development, the mood was upbeat at the annual Pulaski County Economic Development Summit Tuesday (April 29). The event is hosted by the Pulaski County Community Development Commission.

CDC executive director Nathan Origer gave updates on projects and county economics, while keynote speaker Stephanie Wells, president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute, reviewed legislation from this year's session of the Indiana General Assembly.

Chamber presents Don, Lynn Darda with 2025 Halleck Award

The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce presented the 2025 Halleck Community Service Award to Don and Lynn Darda of Winamac at its annual award banquet Thursday evening (April 24), at the Winamac VFW.

The Dardas are both retired teachers in the Winamac schools and have been enthusiastic volunteers in a variety of projects throughout the years. 

Pulaski Superior Court appears saved

INDIANAPOLIS (April 24) – Pulaski Superior Court and seven other rural courts have been spared from closure, following revisions made to HB1144 approved by both the state house and senate Thursday evening in the Indiana General Assembly.

The legislation is now pending the approval of Gov. Mike Braun.

Marlatt, Vanderkleed join IBA 40-Year Club

FRANCESVILLE - Alliance Bank has recently recognized Kimberly Marlatt and Lori Vanderkleed with membership into the 40-Year Club of the Indiana Bankers Association (IBA).

The club recognizes banking professionals who have completed 40 years or more of service to the Indiana banking community. Inductees are given IBA keepsakes and letters of congratulations.

Community Foundation awards $15,000 in grants

The Community Foundation of Pulaski County (CFoPC) has announced $15,000 has been awarded in grants to local nonprofits and community organizations.

The following projects and organizations have received funding:

  • $5,000 to Pulaski County Historical Society – “We’re Moving!”
  • $10,000 to Pulaski Memorial Hospital – for a Community Health Worker