The Porter County Commissioners are on the agenda for the County Parks and
Recreation Board meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. to inform the board about their
plans for building a new county animal shelter at Sunset Hill Farm in
Liberty Twp.
The board will meet in Room 205 of the County Administration Building, 155
Indiana Ave. in Valparaiso.
Last month, Commissioner President John Evans, R-North, said he wished to
meet with members of the Porter County Parks Foundation to request donating
3-5 acres on land on one of its two parcels near U.S. 6 for construction of
the new shelter facility.
The spot being eyed is about 1,600 feet east of Meridian Road, Commissioner
Laura Blaney, D-South, said, as opposed to being on the corner of the U.S. 6
intersection.
The Parks Foundation is its own 501(c)3 non-profit organization to help
collect donations for the County Park Department, separate from the park
board. Evans and Blaney said however that they would like the board to be
informed of its intentions and current floor plans.
While the proposal has drawn criticism from several Chesterton Tribune
readers, Evans said he believes the new shelter will be a “win-win” for both
the parks department and the shelter with shared educational programming
that will attract more users for both entities.
The Commissioners previously planned to move the “undersized” animal shelter
from its current location on Ind. 2 to the intersection of Ind. 149 and Ind.
130. Evans said he felt Sunset Hill Farm is a more centrally located area.
Under new business, the board will ask questions about a program entitled
“seance” of its host Jayde Peterson. The program, which is scheduled to take
place on Oct. 19 at Brincka-Cross Gardens, was listed in the Park
Department’s fall program guide mailed to residents and drew questions from
board member Craig Kenworthy on whether the parks should sponsor programs of
a spiritual nature.
Also, the board will hear reports from the seven goal committees Ð Raise the
Barn, Marketing & Sponsorship, Land Acquisition Committee, South County
Park, South Field Restoration, Maintenance & Service Standards, and Budget
and Personnel.
There will also be reports by Parks Superintendent Walter Lenckos, board
attorney Dave Hollenbeck, and the Northern Indiana Historical Power
Association. The meeting will also include comments from the public.