Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Fair board willing to chip in for improvements at Expo Center

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By JEFF SCHULTZ

Porter County Fair Board President Mark Baird told the Commissioners during their meeting Wednesday that his board has over $200,000 in surplus money it is willing provide for maintenance and upgrades at the fairground facilities, located at the Expo Center.

Baird said that the first priority would be to repair water lines in the campground area.

The board would also like to see a new gate system put in at the livestock show arenas, which 4-H would also be willing to chip in for. An additional grant of $5,000 from Kankakee Valley REMC is another potential source for that project, Baird said.

If possible, the fair board is hoping to improve its restrooms near the grandstand and the Buggy Wheel Pavilion with new fixtures and countertops before the Fair starts in July, which Baird said could cost about $50,000 per restroom.

Among other goals, Baird said fair officials are trying to put in a full glass door at the Expo East, getting rid of the hanging plastic that patrons walk through.

Lastly, Baird said that the fair board wishes to get the ball rolling on building a new building at the fairgrounds for offices and meeting space. He said the County Extension Office could move their operations there instead of being at the County Administration Building. The space would be leased to the County by the Fair Board.

Baird estimates the price tag for the building would be $1.2 million.

Commissioner Jeff Good, R-Center, made the suggestion of building the space out in the Expo Center itself. Baird said the challenge would be to not take away exhibit space.

Good, whose district includes the fairgrounds, agreed to take charge of working with the fair board to see how the two entities can work together.

Baird said he is concerned though that new renovations would take up parking spaces which are needed on sellout nights.

Commissioner President John Evans, R-North, said there may be additional acreage to the east the County could purchase or acquire to expand parking.

Calumet Trail wetlands

In other business, the Commissioners agreed unanimously to a memorandum of understanding with the National Parks Service to allow work on mitigating and restoring wetlands along the portion of the Calumet Trail that crosses through the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Plan Commission Executive Director Bob Thompson said the section of work will be along the first phase of reconstruction of the trail, between Mineral Springs Rd. and Tremont Rd., which has experienced flooding problems in the past. The trail will be raised and paved with asphalt.

Permits from the Army Corps of Engineers will be acquired before restoration work can begin.

Plans for the Calumet Trail enhancements began in 2012, Thompson said, which included a licensing agreement for trail use with NIPSCO which owns an easement to the west.

The County last summer entered into an agreement with the Town of Porter to turn over $400,000 in RDA funds for the upgrades.

Aukiki Park rezoning

The Commissioners voted 3-0 on a first reading to rezone approximately 64 acres between CR 650S and CR 700S along Ind. 49 in Pleasant Township to Parks and Recreation (P2) for the proposed Aukiki County Park, which is to include a number of baseball/softball and soccer fields.

One neighbor remonstrated during the public hearing, citing concerns of increased traffic and lower property values the park may bring, while another resident complained that he hasn’t been able to get definite answers about the layout of the park.

Three more speakers voiced their support for the planned additional sports fields in the county.

“There is a tremendous need for this type of space. Kids today don’t play unless it’s organized,” said Valparaiso resident Bryan McFadden, who coaches a youth soccer league.

County Park Board president Rich Hudson from the floor said that residents with questions about the park can contact the Parks and Recreation office. Engineering and landscape design will be reviewed later at a County Plan Commission meeting, where there will also be public hearings, he said.

Support for a south county park was echoed by County Commissioners Laura Shurr Blaney, D-South, and Jeff Good, R-Center.

Blaney said it will “keep kids involved and busy” and away from the pressures of drug use.

Good said the park layout will depend on what kind of funding is available in the years ahead.

 

Posted 2/23/2015

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

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