Commissioners restart unadvertised section-corner ordinance and set second reading

Starke County commissioners voted to restart the process on a section-corner ordinance after staff and the drainage board attorney confirmed the ordinance language is unchanged from a prior draft but had not been properly advertised. The board moved to re-advertise the ordinance and asked staff to add it for a second reading at the next meeting.

The ordinance, according to staff, would make it unlawful to alter or remove survey monuments without notifying the county surveyor within 20 business days and other steps intended to ensure compliance with Indiana Code requirements for section corners. County staff told commissioners the ordinance text is the same as the version the board reviewed previously; the prior attempt stalled because it was not advertised.

Commissioner Donnie moved to proceed with restarting the ordinance and Charlie seconded; the board voted in favor verbally. Staff asked for copies of the ordinance to circulate and for the clerk to include the item on the agenda for the second reading so commissioners can sign the documents.

No final adoption occurred at the meeting; the board’s action restarts the public-notice and review timeline required for final passage.