Chesterton Tribune

 

 

NIPSCO awards $12.5K grant to Chesterton Fire Department

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By KEVIN NEVERS

The Chesterton Fire Department has been awarded a $12,500 no-match grant from the Northern Indiana Public Service Company.

At the Town Council’s meeting Monday night NIPSCO Public Affairs Manager Rick Calinski presented the CFD with a suitably large check, which will be used to replace the 20-year-old pump on the department’s brush truck.

“We’ve developed a nice working relationship with the Town of Chesterton,” Calinski noted, with excellent lines of communication. “We’re proud to be able to support the town and its fire department.”

Calinski added that, in the nature of things--at fire and crash scenes--NIPSCO’s “front-line workers often work side-by-side with first-responders.”

Deputy Fire Chief Nate Williams applied for the grant, Fire Chief John Jarka said, just as he also applied successfully for one from insurer FM Global. The latter--a no-match grant in the amount of $1,950--will be used to purchase fire-safety kits to distribute to Chesterton Middle School seventh-graders.

“Please pass on our appreciation to Deputy Chief Williams,” said President Jim Ton, R-1st.

Sidewalk Waivers

In other business, members voted unanimously to approve two waivers from the Town Standard requiring the installation of sidewalks in front of all new construction.

Developer Brian Lewandoski requested the waivers for houses being built at 717 S. 16th St. and 1523 Park Ave.

Town Engineer Mark O’Dell told the council that staff reviewed the petition and is recommending the waiver.

“Those are older sections of town,” Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg said. “There aren’t any sidewalks in those areas.”

Public Hearing Scheduled

Meanwhile, members voted unanimously to hold a public hearing at its next meeting, Dec. 11, on several additional appropriations.

Among them include up to $230,000 from the Casino/Riverboat account and up to $160,000 from Cumulative Capital Improvement (Cigarette Tax), to be transferred into General Fund. Those two tranfers--plus approximately $500,000--will be used to cover a shortfall in the General Fund, the result of the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance’s slashing it earlier this year, following a miscalculation by the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office.

A further appropriation of $17,300 from Cumulative Capital Improvement (Street/Sewer) will be used for stormwater repairs; and one of $13,701 from Cumulative Capital Development to pay for a portion of an SUV purchased this year for the Fire Department.

 

 

Posted 11/28/2017

 
 
 
 

 

 

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