Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Commissioners map cooperation between street and drainage departments

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By LILY REX

The Porter County Board of Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between the Highway Department and the Department of Development and Storm Water Management at its meeting Tuesday.

County Attorney Scott McClure said the agreement clarifies guidelines for collaboration between the departments.

Commissioner President Jeff Good, R-Center, said the MOU’s main purpose is to parse out the costs of related projects. “Now we’ll know which bucket to pull that money out of, and there’s a criteria for each one.”

Under the new agreement, McClure said the Storm Water Management Department will fund the paving of bridge decks and culvert purchases for culverts 24 inches in diameter or larger on Highway projects.

The Board also introduced Rich Sexton, who recently replaced Andy McKay as the Highway Department Supervisor. Good reported that McKay will still be working with the Highway Department but stepped down from his position as Supervisor after the flooding event in early March.

Good said that new leadership will take both departments in the cooperative direction that they need to be headed. “It’s very important to get these two departments to start communicating and working together,” he said, noting that Porter County has over 800 miles of roads and drainage impacts their use. He added that the MOU is a “working document” that should be updated going forward.

Other Business

In other Highway Department Business, Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, said he asked Sexton to check in with INDOT on the progress with the closed section of Ind. 149 between U.S. Hwy 20 and U.S. Hwy 6. Sexton told him Ind. 149 will reopen on June 23 at 6:30 p.m.

The Commissioners are taking applications for their appointment to the Airport Board Authority. Applications should be turned in to the Commissioner’s office. The appointment will be made at the next meeting, July 10.

 

 

Posted 6/21/2018

 
 
 
 

 

 

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