By KEVIN NEVERS

In 2007 the Chesterton Redevelopment Commission spent a total of $292,189.24 in tax increment financing funds.

So Clerk-Treasurer Gayle Polakowski informed the commission as its organizational meeting Wednesday night.

The single most expensive category of expenditure: the engineering and design of the South Calumet Business District project. Last year the commission paid its contracted project consultant, DLZ of South Bend, a total of $133,228.57.

The second most expensive category: paving. In 2007 the commission paid Walsh & Kelly $125,000, after agreeing, at the Town Council’s request and in the wake of spiking asphalt prices, to supplement $225,000 in earmarked CEDIT moneys in order to undertake a full season’s worth of paving.

Other expenditures:

•To its contracted financial consultant, H.J. Umbaugh & Associates, a total of $24,802.62, nearly all of it on Umbaugh’s investigation of the TIF snafu in the Porter County Auditor’s Office.

•To the law firm of Harris Welsh & Lukmann, a total of $8,855, on miscellaneous legal expenses.

•To the Chesterton Tribune, $118.05, for the publication of legal notices.

•And to Anton Insurance Company, $185, for bonding members of the commission.

Of the $400,000 which the commission appropriated last year, $107,810.76 remains available, Polakowski said. At the moment the commission has a total balance of $794,773.13.

Organizing

Earlier in the evening members voted 4-0 to elect Sharon Darnell to the presidency, then 4-0 to elect Josh Lantz to the vice-presidency. Darnell herself was not in attendance, but Member Dave Cincoski noted that, in a prior conversation with him, she had indicated her willingness to serve as president in 2008.

In other business Lantz welcomed newcomer Ed Schoenfelt to the commission. Schoenfelt replaces Mike Bannon.

“I’m just happy to have the opportunity to assist where I can,” Schoenfelt said.

The commission will next meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 28.

Posted 1/3/2008