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Starke County commissioners ban campaign signs at courthouse, vote to sell aging EMA trailer to fund ambulance upgrades
Summary
At their April meeting the Starke County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution 11 of 2026 banning campaign signs on the courthouse lawn, approved selling an aging EMA command trailer with proceeds placed into Q-cap to fund ambulance upgrades, and authorized a $2,255 emergency repair to a VHF site. Several routine claims, payrolls and other small contracts were also approved.
Starke County commissioners adopted an ordinance prohibiting campaign signs on the courthouse grounds and took a series of operational votes including authorizing the sale of an aging emergency management (EMA) command trailer to help fund ambulance upgrades.
The board voted to adopt Resolution number 11 of 2026, which bars placement of campaign signage on the Starke County Courthouse and courthouse lawn. The board noted the resolution carries no assessed penalty and that it will take effect upon signatures.
Jen, who oversees county EMA/EMS operations, briefed commissioners on readiness and equipment needs and said the department currently holds a $120,000 MIH grant that must be spent by the end of June. "I'm sitting on a $120,000 worth of grant money for the MIH program and I got to spend it and I got a real close deadline and I got till the end of June to have it all gone," she said, adding the department is considering purchasing an $11,000 cardiac monitor and evaluating chassis/remount options for a Type 1 4x4 ambulance.
Commissioners discussed the county's command trailer, which staff described as heavy, outdated and costly to maintain. Staff provided a repair estimate of about $7,500 to get the trailer functional; the EMA director said the trailer has not performed reliably as a mobile command center. The board approved a motion to put the trailer up for county auction with a $2,500 minimum bid and to deposit proceeds into the county Q-cap capital account so they can be used for ambulance equipment and upgrades.
The commission also approved an out-of-contract diagnostic and stabilization quote from vendor J&K for $2,255 to secure a VHF cable at the North Jackson site after technicians identified possible storm damage. Staff said the county may forward invoices to the state for reimbursement if storm damage is later confirmed. Separately, the county renewed an annual GIS access agreement (fee $750) and approved routine vendor claims and payrolls.
Other items: the board approved Prairie Trails Club's request to take up to four loads of highway millings for a trail project (the club will handle hauling); agreed to mount and ceremonially present a bicentennial bison display at the courthouse on April 20 and designated the building to open at 9:30 a.m. that day with an hour-and-a-half of county-paid time for employees who attend; and staff reported the arrival of a brush chopper purchased in January and ongoing work on a CCMG project where bids will be reissued.
The meeting closed after routine minutes approvals and final motions.
Votes at a glance - Vendor claims: $920,405.10 — approved by voice vote. - Payroll (pay period ending 3/14, pay date 3/20/2026): $345,118.63 — approved by voice vote. - Payroll (pay period ending 3/28, pay date 4/2/2026): $338,607.65 — approved by voice vote. - Resolution 11 of 2026 (ban on campaign signs at courthouse): adopted by voice vote; effective on signing. - Sale of EMA command trailer (auction minimum $2,500) and deposit of proceeds into Q-cap: approved by voice vote. - J&K VHF diagnostic/stabilization quote: $2,255 — approved by voice vote (to be charged to QK and possibly submitted for state reimbursement). - GIS access renewal: $750 — approved by voice vote. - Prairie Trails Club: up to four loads of highway millings provided; hauling by the club — approved by voice vote. - Bison dedication: presentation scheduled April 20; building opening set for 9:30 a.m.; one-and-a-half hours county-paid time for employees — approved by voice vote.
Who said what - Jen (EMA/EMS): "I'm sitting on a $120,000 worth of grant money for the MIH program... I got till the end of June to have it all gone," and described options for a new cardiac monitor and ambulance remounts. - Staff/clerks (unnamed in transcript): Described Resolution 11 of 2026 and stated the ordinance does not require publication and takes effect on signing.
What happens next Staff will prepare the ordinance for signatures; EMA will proceed with auction preparations for the trailer and present any ambulance upgrade spending requests to commissioners for Q-cap funding. Vendors will be scheduled to make the VHF repairs; staff will pursue possible state reimbursement if the damage is confirmed.
(For full meeting details, including additional routine approvals and project updates, see the meeting timeline and provenance.)
