By MARGARET L. WILLIS

Burns Harbor should take steps now, as a town, to insure that the intersection of Rt. 20 and Ind. 149, is developed as the center of town. Twenty residents attended Wednesday’s Town Council meeting and one resident explained the concept to town officials.

Eric Hull, a resident of the Villages of Burns Harbor, told the council he’s always thought of the area as the center of town. He grew up in Portage, so is familiar with Burns Harbor.

“I always envisioned it as the center of town,” he said, adding the urgency to take action to control the process was increased recently when duplexes were proposed near the intersection.

Hull said he and at least 30 to 40 of his neighbors agree. Neighborhood meetings, with anywhere from 10 to twenty people have been held in Villages of Burns Harbor and the Harbor Trails neighborhoods, he said. Residents agree they’d like to see small, retail and commercial spaces developed to provide daily services to residents; the goal, to create a functioning downtown.

“The problem is piecemeal development,” Hull said. First one development is allowed because it sounds good, then another, possibly conflicting, construction is allowed. “Then it’s a mish mash, it’s not organized or centralized.”

Hull pointed out that the city of Portage is “spending millions,” to correct years of spot zoning and development in its downtown area.

Council members didn’t disagree with Hull. The northwest corner of the intersection was at one time considered as a new location for the town hall. “It was just too expensive,” said town council president Jim McGee.

A recent proposal to build expensive duplexes in the area has not yet come before the Plan Commission.

Commercial development is “driven by rooftops,” said council member Mike Perrine. “We’re doing what we can,” he said, “It’s a matter of getting developers to come in and do it. Hopefully the subdivision growth will generate the interest.”

Hull pointed out that restrictions should be in place prior to new proposals and development, so that the town could control what was built. “We need to figure out what steps need to be taken,” he said.

That type of control is something best tackled by the Plan Commission, council members agreed.

Louis Bain suggested a letter be sent to the Plan Commission from the Town Council urging they look at the issue.

Hull and other members of the audience took note of the Plan Commission’s regular meeting time of the second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m., at the Town Hall.

Meanwhile building continues at a steady pace in Burn Harbor, with Building Commissioner Randall Lopez reporting he completed 16 inspections in the month of May; issued 6 building permits and two new occupancy permits.

Fireworks Control Measure

The council unanimously declared an emergency, since July 4th is just weeks away, and adopted the strictest fireworks control measures the new state statute allows on the same night as the first reading of the ordinance.

The use, ignition or discharge of consumer fireworks will be illegal in Burns Harbor except during these hours: Within the hours of 5 p.m. and two hours after sunset on June 29 and 30, July 1,2,3,5,6,7,8 and 9 of any year; between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 Midnight on July 4 and between the hours of 10 a.m. on Dec. 31 and 1 a.m. on January 1 in any year.

First violation shall be subject to a $100 fine; second offense shall face a penalty equal to the maximum penalty permitted for municipal violations under Indiana law.

With Richard Bolinger absent, the council voted unanimously in favor of the new ordinance.

Police Chief Jerry Price sought and received permission to hire a new police officer. The candidate, a 42 year-old veteran of the Portage Civil Defense and the Valparaiso University security department, will begin with the town on July 11. Price said he’s an excellent candidate and will be an asset to the town.

Price read aloud the new state seatbelt statute that requires all passengers to be properly secured with safety belts in all vehicles.

The council approved $2,100 from the Cumulative Capital Development Fund, for Price to use as matching funds for a grant to acquire two new digital cameras for police cars.

The council also gave final approval to establish a DUI Fund, for Price’s department to receive grants for anti-drunk driving enforcement.

Fire Chief Bill Arney said the town’s ISO rating inspection is completed and that the town did very well. If the town’s rating, based on fire hydrant accessibility, water flow capacity, firefighter training levels and department OSHA standards compliance, is brought down as Arney expects, resident’s could see a decrease in their homeowner’s insurance.

Arney said he is working with Mike Wilson of the Indiana American Water Company to acquire past maintenance records of fire hydrants to help in the ISO ratings. IAWC is under contract with the town for hydrant maintenance, Arney said, and so should have records available.

Also, Arney reported, six members of the B.H. Volunteer Fire Department recently completed a “very demanding” dive training class. All graduated and one even “managed to find a penny in the black water dive,” he added.

Posted 6/14/2007