Burns Harbor town officials decided Wednesday to convene a meeting of interested parties in hopes of addressing long-standing problems at Rainbow mobile home park.

Town attorney Bob Welsh also was authorized to take legal action as necessary to pursue collection of Rainbow owner Jacob Pasternac’s outstanding unpaid sanitary sewer bills.

The town has the option of asking that water service to the park be shut off because of the delinquencies, but Town Council members said that would penalize the park’s residents.

Building commissioner Bill Arney said Pasternac has made no effort to rectify Rainbow violations after refusing delivery of Arney’s letters and having a subsequent personal conversation.

Council president Jim McGee said it’s important for Rainbow to obtain an operating permit from the State of Indiana. A state inspector will be asked to attend the town’s meeting as well as a representative of Pasternac’s mortgage lender. Welsh said the latter may prefer to step in and make the necessary improvements to protect its investment.

The deteriorated condition of the park’s road is of primary interest; the state permit as well as asphalt and debris piled on Pasternac’s adjacent vacant land are additional concerns.

Welsh said at some point the council may have to come to grips with the fact it may have to shut the park down, even if it affects innocent people who have done nothing wrong. He and others said they would prefer to give park residents reasonable time to make advance arrangements if necessary, but they hope it won’t come to that.

Councilman Louis Bain asked if Indiana has laws regarding slum landlords the town might use. Welsh said he wasn’t familiar with that area of law.

McGee reiterated it’s important for state health officials to get in the game and take a firm stance on Rainbow’s operating permit.

In a related violations matter, Welsh was given authority to proceed under the Unsafe Buildings Act to get an abandoned home at 1252 Westport Rd. torn down. A public hearing will be set. Arney said the whole grounds are a hazard.

The council also voted unanimously to accept an escalator clause adding $2,500 to the $25,500 contract with Bechstein Construction Corp. of Tinley Park, IL to tear down the derelict Standard Plaza truck stop on U.S. 20. Bechstein’s was the low bid awarded Sept. 9 and remains the lowest by far.

Welsh said the company now wants $500 more for fuel costs and $2,000 for landfill tipping fees. It was agreed Bechstein will be asked to expedite removal of the longstanding Plaza eyesore. The total demolition cost will be placed as a lien on the property to recoup the town’s outlay.

Last night’s appointment of council member Toni Biancardi to the Advisory Plan Commission coincided with her announcement to step down as secretary of the commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Sanitary Board.

Councilman Mike Perrine said since Arney, who also serves as Sanitation superintendent and fire chief, needs additional part-time clerical help, a job posting combining that need and the secretarial positions will be advertised.

Also named with Biancardi to the Plan Commission as municipal appointees were McGee and town marshal Jerry Price. Councilman Cliff Fleming, a developer in town, did not seek commission reappointment.

Vote on the municipal members was 4-0 with Biancardi initially abstaining. Clerk-treasurer Jane Jordan asked for clarification as to when a council member may abstain under Chapter 2 of town code. After a reading by Welsh, he said it was proper if Biancardi wished to abstain, which she reaffirmed.

Jordan suggested that Chapter 2 be reviewed because many things in it aren’t taking place any more.

2010 town presidential appointments proposed by McGee were Gene Weibl to the Board of Zoning Appeals and Bernie Poparad to the Plan Commission. Vote was 4-1 with Bain voting no. His wife, Virginia, had sought reappointment to the latter. Three additional candidates applied for the commission and/or BZA seats.

On the 4-0 reappointment of Leann Perrine to the Park Board, Mike Perrine abstained on the motion regarding his wife.

During Wednesday’s nearly three-hour meeting the council moved to enact a ban on parking by motorized vehicles within 40 feet of any intersection of any road in town. The ban preserves access for emergency vehicles.

Vote was 4-1 with Bain dissenting. He said other parking issues should be addressed at the same time and not handled piecemeal.

The council also voted to rescind a 1969 ordinance that bans parking on all town streets; Price said at that time most streets were narrow. Biancardi said town code currently names certain roads where parking is not allowed, primarily near the Little Calumet River where fishermen frequent.

In other business Price urged all Duneland-area residents to be vigilant and guard against daylight burglaries that are occurring in north Porter County.

“These folks are very brazen, they’re hiding in plain view,” he noted, explaining that some burglaries have occurred when residents were present. “One time that might not come to a good result.”

Price recommended neighbors keep a watchful eye on each other’s homes and be aware of vehicles or people who don’t belong. The public should call their local police jurisdiction to report suspicious circumstances.

“We’d rather check this person out and it not be anything than not call and it be something.” Price said electronics are especially being targeted in the thefts.