By PAULENE POPARAD

Appointments to an expanded Executive Board of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission triggered some sharp constructive criticism Thursday.

Under a new state law that took effect July 1, three new members were added to the formerly eight-member board. The NIRPC Full Commission approved the appointments, but not without comment.

Porter County Commissioner Bob Harper said everything in the agency is run by committee. As a commission member, “We have general reports and then we’re asked to rubber stamp projects decided by committee.” The commission needs more debate if its meetings are to be meaningful, he stated. “If I’m going to come here I need to make meaty decisions.”

Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub said he also feels like an outsider, “It feels like it’s a little tight group (and) the rest are here to do what the body wants.” He said he feels like a renegade if he wants to ask a question.

Lake County Surveyor George Van Til said, “Some of us will never be on the Executive Committee and you have to accept that. Some people aren’t wanted there.”

Van Til added that 99 percent of the NIRPC appointees, chosen to serve by their respective government units in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, are people with good hearts and heads, and the NIRPC staff works hard. But Van Til said he’d welcome more interaction among commission members.

“We don’t get enough time to compare notes and talk about cooperation and frustrations,” said Van Til. He was reminded NIRPC sponsors a Council of Smaller Cities and Towns that addresses those types of concerns.

Shirley Stanford, representing Gary Mayor Rudy Clay, said as a new commission member she has concerns, too.

Merrillville Town Council member Shawn Pettit, a former NIRPC employee, said Full Commission members can and do designate a representative to sit on NIRPC committees to speak for them so their voice can be heard there. “I don’t see this as a problem.” As for the comments made Thursday, “These are views I’ve never heard of while I was at NIRPC.”

Its Full Commission, representing 52 regional government units and a Governor’s appointee, meets generally quarterly with the Executive Board meeting in the interim to conduct agency business. Sometimes there aren’t enough members of the Full Commission to convene so the Executive Board convenes although Full Commission members are present and participate.

Joan Bliss of Beverly Shores is a member of the Nominating Committee that recommended adding to the Executive Board Highland Clerk-treasurer Michael Griffin, 4th District Porter County Council member Mike Bucko and Stephen Mockler representing the Wanatah Town Council. Bliss said even if there may be some systemic problems with NIRPC, the committee did the best job it could choosing candidates.

Harper said he did not question that statement and Bucko might very well be Porter County’s choice, but the Porter County Commission and County Council should discuss it first. Porter County’s current Executive Board members are Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas and Porter County Surveyor Kevin Breitzke.

LaPorte Mayor and Full Commission chairman Leigh Morris said members attending a retreat earlier this year developed objectives for NIRPC, but a problem has been not full attendance by commission members forcing the Executive Board to act.

On Harper’s point there needs to be more open discussion during meetings, Morris said, “It’s an open meeting. There’s always time to bring up things. I’m dedicated to if we come to these meetings, they should be worthwhile.” Breitzke wondered how the commission could find a way to discuss 100 road projects. Thursday’s meeting lasted 2 1/2 hours and many members left before it adjourned.

Nevertheless, Breitzke said, “This is a dynamic organization that can change with what the membership wants.” Don Ensign representing the Hebron Town Council suggested possibly evening meetings.

Harper’s motion to table the Executive Board appointments, seconded by Scheub, failed by a wide margin. NIRPC votes generally are taken by voice vote or a show of hands and no vote total is announced, only passage or defeat; roll-call tallied votes are rare.

On another matter, Griffin, chairman of the Economic Development Committee, said NIRPC is developing a computerized geographic information system identifying regional land use including 14 cities and towns to be available in GIS format once completed.

It was announced NIRPC has authored a Sensible Tools Handbook for Indiana describing smart-growth planning initiatives to be used as guidance for public officials, professionals and citizens. NIRPC executive director John Swanson said, “To say it’s been well-received is an understatement.” A training seminar for regional planning officials and board members will take place this fall.

NIRPC employee Ophelia Waddell was recognized with applause upon her retirement after 23 years of service as manager of the in-house copy center.

NIRPC also welcomed Indiana Department of Transportation commissioner Karl Browning, who used pie charts and graphs to show how INDOT plans to spend $12 billion statewide over 10 years on about 400 projects, in part using INDOT’s $2.6 billion share of the state’s $3.8 billion lease of the Indiana Toll Road to a foreign consortium.

Harper asked Browning what the department’s two biggest projects will be. The commissioner said the $400 million to $500 million Hoosier Heartland route from Lafayette to Logansport and the $700 million Interstate-69 extension from Evansville.

Browning said INDOT’s request to have the proposed Illiana Expressway from Interstate 57 in Illinois to Interstate 65 in Lake County failed to win federal funding recognition as a corridor of the future. A consultant contract for Indiana’s own Illiana feasibility study has been awarded and is being negotiated.

LaPorte County Council member Jerry Cooley charged that ITR Concession, which now operates the Indiana Toll Road, employs non-union workers and isn’t paying prevailing wage or the previous level of benefits under state management.

Browning said discussions are ongoing with ITR about prevailing wage but its agreement with the state doesn’t mandate that.

Posted 9/21/2007