By VICKI URBANIK

The Porter County Commissioners reorganized for 2008 on Tuesday by making a few appointment changes, some of which were a surprise but none of which prompted dissension as in previous years.

Not unexpectedly, the commissioners kept the same officers, with Democrat Robert Harper serving as president, Republican John Evans as vice-president and Democrat Carole Knoblock as secretary.

With Evans reading a long list of appointments, the commissioners then voted unanimously on their annual reorganization matters, a big contrast to previous years when at least a few of the appointments prompted a party-line vote.

Evans won back his seat on the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, the board that oversees the South Shore commuter service. Ever since 2005, this appointment has been a contentious one.

Traditionally, the north county commissioner has served on NICTD, but that changed in 2005, when Harper and Knoblock appointed former Democrat Party Chair Leon West over the objections of Evans. Then last year, when West resigned and moved away, Harper filled the seat, again over the objections of Evans.

Evans said he’s glad to be back on NICTD and pledged to do a thorough job on the board. Harper said he didn’t want to retain the NICTD post, mainly because he’s swamped with other commissioner work. Harper retained his other major regional appointment on the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, while also keeping his seat on the Porter County Plan Commission, a board that tends to have extensive and long meetings.

Surprises

Though the commissioners retained practically all the same appointments as last year, there were a few surprises.

Former South County Commissioner Dave Burrus was appointed to a three-year term to the Porter County Drainage Board to replace Joe Harrison.

Harper said Knoblock was the one who recommended Burrus for the drainage board due to his engineering background. Knoblock, who also serves on the drainage board, defeated Burrus in the 2004 elections; Burrus first came into office as a Democrat, but after Knoblock filed for his seat that year, he switched to the Republican Party.

Another surprise appointment came when Evans named David Canright to a two-year term on the Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission.

Canright, the managing editor of the Chesterton Tribune, had been the Porter County Council’s PCCRVC appointee, but did not seek reappointment this year. On Monday, the council appointed out-going council member Matt Murphy as his replacement.

But Evans said the council’s appointment of Murphy, a Republican, tipped the political balance on the PCCRVC board, forcing him to name a Democrat as his representative. Canright replaces Evans’ previous appointee, Gloria Reed.

Evans said the PCCRVC appointments may not be over with yet, since one of the board member’s political party affiliation is being researched to ensure that the Republican Party does not have more than a simple majority. If so, one of the Republican appointees may need to be replaced.

In another appointment. The commissioners replaced Richard Hudson on the Porter County Board of Zoning Appeals with Debbie Kerr-Cook, who was given a four-year term. Also, new Porter County Clerk Pamela Fish was appointed to the Porter County Election Board, in keeping with state law. She replaces previous clerk Dale Brewer.

Other Appointments

In other commissioner appointments, Harper was appointed to the Center of Workforce Innovations and the Emergency Management Advisory Council. Evans was appointed to the Community Corrections Board, Child Protection Team, Animal Welfare Board and the Gary/Chicago Airport Board. Knoblock retained her drainage board seat.

In citizen appointments, Donald Cirrincione was retained on the Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Dr. Lisa Booth, Steven Kirschner, Marilyn Schultz, Mary Ann Sheller, James Lambert, Sheryl Barnard, Dr. Lynn Gassoway, Nancy Hiatt and Terry Young were reappointed to the Animal Welfare Board. One additional seat is vacant.

Also, Marvin Brickner was reappointed to the BZA; Bill LaFever and Janine Chrisman to the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals; Rae Jean Flesvig to the West Porter Township Fire District; and Dottie Kostka, Dr. Larry McAfee, Frank Zona, Mary Ann Zona-Gregg, Alan Resetar, Glenn Wiles and Melissa Culbertson to the Wildlife Management Advisory Board.

Goals: Drainage, Garage

As they outlined their priority projects for 2008, all three commissioners indicated that drainage issues will be a top concern.

Evans said he is working on a project to install a new drainage system in Grenville Acres in Westchester Township, an area that has long dealt with drainage woes. Harper noted that he is working with the Valparaiso Lakes Area Conservancy District to resolve the drainage and siltation problems at Flint Lake and surrounding lakes. Knoblock noted that the drainage board has several major projects underway.

“This is probably going to be a big year for the drainage board,” Harper said.

Harper and Evans both said another top project will be the construction of the new North County Highway Garage in Westchester Township. The commissioners on Tuesday opened bids for the garage, all of which came in higher than anticipated, ranging from $1.1 million to $1.69 million.

Harper also outlined how the commissioners will be dealing with a variety of building matters in 2008. The DLZ firm is currently doing an evaluation of the aging buildings, and a citizen board, headed by former South County Commissioner Brian Gesse, is looking at future plans for the Expo Center. In addition, Harper said, the commissioners will address the increasing lack of storage space in county offices and the need to digitize oversized documents.

Posted 1/9/2008