BY JOHN REED LEADER EDITOR
KNOX — Starke County highway trucks have been ordered “parked,” and that seems to have raised some resentment among truck drivers at the highway garage.
During Monday’s meeting of the Starke County Commissioners, Kevin Kroft said he had ordered the “parking” on April 1 to save on fuel costs. He also said that this was at one time common practice.
During the winter, drivers take the trucks home so they can begin plowing from their homes. But during the summer, that need doesn’t arise and thus the trucks are “parked” at the highway garage and drivers use their own vehicles to get to work.

“It’s not fair to hammer us and not hammer the other departments,” Acting Superintendent John Norris said Monday. He indicated drivers told him to question the move and ask why other departments weren’t given the same order.
The surveyor, health department and plan administrator also have vehicles which they may take home at night. So do sheriff’s department officers.
Kroft said no one is allowed to use a county vehicle for personal use, a move made after insurance coverage soared and wasn’t even available for a few months.
Commissioners affirmed their belief that squad cars should be taken home, to increase the police presence on the roads.
Norris said he was having trouble with highway workers responding to calls when off duty. Workers may get called out when off duty to remove fallen trees and handle similar emergencies, and dislike having to drive all the way to the garage to pick up a county truck.
In another highway matter, Auditor Michaelene Houston said the state warned her the highway department budget may be cut as much as $1,082,000.