Starke County Board/Committee
Please click each group to see its members.
Alcoholic Beverage Board (IC 7)
- Joseph Pucel – 2025 – Commissioners
- Gwen Rentz – 2025 – Council
- Bill Gustafson – 2025 – City Of Knox
Arrowhead
- Don Binkley – 2025 – Commissioner
Aviation Board (IC8-22)
(All Commissioner Appointments)
- Jim Long (R) – 2028
- Leigh Smith (R) – 2025
- Lionel Smead (D) – 2026
- Carl Goodrich (D) – 2027
Board of Zoning (IC 36-7)
- Eugene Pugh (R) – 2024 – Commissioner Apptmt.
- Mark Allen (D) – 2024 – Plan. Comm.
- Roberta Lee (R) – 2025 – Commissioner Apptmt.
- Jason Downs (R) – 2025 – Commissioner Apptmt.
- Denise Coultice (D) – 2025 – Council Apptmt.
Building Code Review Board (Per Ordinance)
County Commissioners, By Virtue of their office
- Charles Chesak – 2025
- Mike VanDeMark – 2025
- Don Binkley – 2025
Building Corp
- Charles Chesak – 2026 – Commissioner Appointment
- Ted Hayes – 2025 – Commissioner Appointment
- Jim Brown – 2024 – Commissioner Appointment
City Planning Commission
(Commissioners Appointments Only)
- James Jenkins (R) – 2024 – Commissioners
- John Wilson (D) – 2024 – Commissioners
- Jeff Berg (D) – 2023 – Knox City Council
- Ron Parker (D) – 2023 – Knox City Council
- Donald Kring (D) – 2023 – Knox City Employee
- Brent VanNorman (R) – 2023 – Mayor of Knox
- Jeff Houston (D) – 2024 – Mayor of Knox
- Todd Flagg – 2023 – Mayor of Knox
- Dan Allen – 2024 – Mayor of Knox
Commissioner To Contact
- Jail: Don Binkley – 2025
- Courthouse & Annex: Charles Chesak – 2025
- Highway Department: Mike VanDeMark – 2025
- EMS: Don Binkley – 2025
- Landfill: Charles Chesak – 2025
Community Corrections Board
- Kim Hall – Judge/Designee – 2028
- Leslie Baker – Prosecutor/Designee – 2026
- Dennis Estok – Mayor/Designee – 2027
- Jack Rosa – Sheriff/Designee – 2026
- Charles Hasnerl – Judge/Designee – 2027
- Micah Cox – Judiciary – 2028
- Michaelene J. Houston – County Fiscal Body/Designee – 2026
- Richard Ballard – Public Defender/Designee
- John Novak – Probation Officer
- Vacant – Educational Admin.
- Crystal Bradley – DFC Director/Designee
- Samatha Piper – Ex-Offender
- Todd Willis – Mental Health Admin
- Lori Bailey – Victim/Advocate
- Vacant – Juv.CF/JDC/MH Rep.
- Abby White – JDAI
- Jessi Venice – Juv. Probation Officer
- Vacant – Private Corr. Agency
- Joe Cunningham – Layperson
- Ted Hayes – Layperson
- Marlene Patrick – Layperson
- Vacant – Layperson
County Council
- President: Todd Leinbach – 2025
- Vice President: Bruce Bennett – 2025
- County Attorney: Justin Schramm – 2025
Drainage Board
- President: Greg Troike – 2026
- Vice President: Ed Jernas – 2026
- Secretary: Charles Chesak – 2025
- Member: Matthew Lawrence – 2025
- Member: Merlyn Lucas – 2025
- Starke-Pulaski Drng. Brd: Merlyn Lucas & Greg Troike – 2025
- Marshall-Starke Drng. Brd: Matthew Lawrence & Charlie Chesak – 2025
- Three County Drainage Board: Ed Jernas – 2025
- Monon Drng. Brd: Merlyn Lucas – 2025
- Four County Drng. Brd: Ed Jernas – 2025
- Zec-Chap-Lohr: Greg Troike – 2025
Economic Development Board
- Mark Gourley – 2025 – Commissioner
- Dave Pearman – 2025 – Council
- Kay Gudeman – 2025 – Council
Emergency Management Board
- Charles Chesak (Proxy Don Binkley) – 2025
FEMA Board
- Charles Chesak (Proxy Don Binkley) – 2025
Finance Board (IC)
County Commissioners, By Virtue of their office
- Charles Chesak – 2025
- Mike VanDeMark – 2025
- Don Binkley – 2025
Health Board (IC 16-20)
(All Commissioner Appointments)
- Angela Banks (R) – 2028
- Carolyn Benoit (R) – 2026
- Deborah C. Hansen (R) – 2025
- Vacant (D) – 2026
- Rita Berger (D) – 2026
- Angela Stacy Flagg (D) – 2025
Hospital Community Board
(All Commissioner Appointments)
- Erland Henry – 2028
- Marty Lucas – 2028
- Dolores Bennett – 2025
- Kathy Norem – 2025
- Rosanne Boisvert – 2026
- Larry Jernas – 2026
- Dr. Walter Fritz – 2027
Information Technology Committee
The Office of Information Technology is currently recruiting members for the Starke County Information Technology Committee.
The Information Technology Committee is the faculty advisory body for policy and planning for information technology throughout the county. In performing its functions, it shall consult with such groups and individuals as it feels may be able to provide valuable advice. It may request such reports on budgets, personnel policies, and other topics as are necessary for it to make informed judgments and recommendations. It shall establish such subcommittees as are necessary to carry out its functions.
Internal Controls Committee
- Rachel Oesterreich – 2026 – By Virtue of Office
- Carrie Block – 2023 – Commissioner Appointment
- Vacant – 2023 – Commissioner Appointment
K.I.R.P.C. (IC 36-7)
- Charles Chesak – 2023 – Commissioner
- Mark VanDeMark – 2023 – Commissioner
- Don Binkley – 2023 – Commissioner
- Bruce Bennett – 2025 – Council
Koontz Lake Sewer District
- Paul Warnke – 2022 – Starke Co. Commissioner Appt.
- Gerald Weber – 2023 – Starke Co. Commissioner Appt.
- Daniel Pisarek – 2022 – Starke Co. Council Appt.
- James Jackson – 2022 – Oregon Twp.
- Ronald Armstead – 2023 – Marshall Co. Council Appt.
- Mike McKenna – 2020 – Marshall Co. Commissioner Appt.
- Kristy Wilsey – 2020 – Polk Township Trustee Appt.
LEPC
- Don Binkley (Proxy Charles Chesak) – 2025
Library Board (IC 36-12)
- Julie Smith – 2025 – Commissioners
- Marcia Lochner – 2025 – Council
- Steve Dodge – 2025 – Commissioners
- Nicole Salazar – 2026 – Joint School Boards (NJ-SP, O-D, & Culver)
- Susan Lucas – 2026 – Council
- Kim Gingher – 2026 – Knox School Board
- Ruth Bailey – 2025 – Knox School Board
- Joanne Gappa – 2027 – Commissioners
- Nathan Origer – 2025 – Council
- Venita Cunningham – 2025 – N.J. Town Board
- Dave Altman – 2026 – Wayne Twp. Advisory Brd.
- Justin Miller – 2027 – N.J.S.P. School Board
- Jack Reimbold – 2025 – N.J.S.P. School Board
- Linda Schumacher – 2026 – N.J.S.P. School Board
Marshall – Starke Development Board
- Anthony Black – 2025 – Council
Organization of Board
- President: Charles Chesak – 2025
- Vice President: Mike VanDeMark – 2025
- Secretary: Michaelene J. Houston – 2025
- County Attorney: Justin Schramm – 2025
Park Board
- Tom Brush (R) – 2028 – Commissioner Appointment
- Stephen Ritzler (D) – 2026 – Council Appointment
- Karl Swihart (D) – 2025 – Council Appointment
- Richard Ballard (D) – 2025 – Judge of Circuit Court Appointment
- Sam Byer (R) – 2027 – Judge of Circuit Court Appointment
Planning Commission (IC 36-7)
- Matt Lawrence (R) – 2027 – Commissioner
- Denise Coultice (D) – 2025 – Commissioner
- Todd Jackson (R) – 2025 – Commissioner
- Isaiah Collins (D) – 2026 – Commissioner
- Mark Allen (D) – 2025 – Twp. Trustee
- Mike VanDeMark – 2025 – Commissioner
- Howard Bailey – 2025 – Council
- Gwen Rentz, Surveyor – 2025 – By virtue of office
- Phil Woolery – 2025 – Extension Office Appt.
P.T.A.B.O.A. Board (IC 6-1.1)
- Phyl Olinger (R) – 2025 – Commissioners
- Victoria Chessor (D) – 2025 – Commissioners
- Michelle Downs (D) – 2025 – Council
Records Committee
- Charles Chesak
- Bernadette Manuel
- Rachel Oesterreich
- Judge Kim Hall
- Mandy Thompson
- Knox Clerk – Treasurer Kelly Graham
Redevelopment Commission
- Brad Hazelton
- Bryan Cavender
- Lee Nagai
- William Sonnemaker
Safety Committee
- Charles Chesak
- Ricky Green
- Larry Brock
- Frank Lynch
- Thomas Schouten
- Dan Dipert
- Jack Rosa (Jail Commander)
SCILL
- Bruce Bennett – 2023 – Council
Solid Waste Board
- Charlie Chesak – 2025 – By virtue of office
- Mike VanDeMark – 2025 – By virtue of office
- Don Binkley – 2026 – By virtue of office
- Todd Leinbach – 2025 – Council Representative
Starke County Convention And Visitor’s Commission (IC6-9)
(Commissioner Appts.)
- Kathy Norem – 2025
- Dennis Estok – 2025
- Tiffany Nagai – 2025
- JoAnne Bailey – 2025
- Mark Allen – 2025
- Linda Banasiak – 2025
- Erland Henry – 2025
- Mary Perren – 2025
- Bernadette Manuel – 2025
Workforce Development
- Charles Chesak – 2025 – Commissioner
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