The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority is looking for support, and RDA executive director Bill Hanna will seek that endorsement Tuesday from the Porter Town Council. The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the town hall, 303 Franklin St.

Last year the RDA gave Porter $1.8 million of the town’s $19 million request to make improvements to the Indiana 49/U.S. 20 corridor. The town’s first project is adding lettering, sconces and stylized details to a planned state-constructed new bridge over U.S. 20.

The Porter County Council majority is attempting to withdraw from the RDA; a court hearing is slated later this month. The RDA is hoping endorsement resolutions from Porter County communities will demonstrate countywide support for the regional agency.

In other Porter Town Council business, members will make 2010 annual appointments for department heads, consultants, liaisons, and to municipal boards and commissions. New Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals members both have public hearings scheduled next week.

In advance of the Plan Commission hearing for requested changes to the Mineral Springs Villas 18-lot residential development approved in 2006, Porter department heads sitting as a Technical Advisory Committee will meet Jan. 12 at 3 p.m. at the town hall to discuss with developer Larry Gough his 3.65-acre Villas project located at the northeast corner of Beam Street and Mineral Springs Road.

Posted 1/11/2010