By KEVIN NEVERS

Fresh on the Chesterton Utility Service Board’s recommendation that the Town Council actively pursue an arrangement with Community Health Systems (CHS) under which the Utility would provide sanitary sewer service to the new hospital proposed for northwest corner of Ind. 49 and U.S. Highway 6 in Liberty Township, Member Sharon Darnell, D-2nd, extended her hand to CHS at Monday night’s council meeting.

“It’s important that we as a community extend our help if there’s anything we can do,” she said at the end of the meeting, noting that a new hospital would provide “life-long employment” for many in Chesterton.

“The hospital has always been there for us,” Darnell added, “and we want to be there for them in the future. We want to extend our hand.”

Under its current policy, the Service Board will extend sanitary sewer service to the owners of unincorporated and unannexable property under the following conditions:

•The Service Board must determine that a sewer connection will benefit both the Utility and the town.

•The owner of the property or his or her successors must waive the right to remonstrate against any future annexation.

•The waterwater treatment plant must have a sufficient reserve of capacity.

•The owner of the property must pay all rates, fees, and charges required of other Utility customers and must pay all costs of the Service Board and town staff.

•Until such time as any additional property owner is allowed to tap into the connection, the cost of all sewer lines and necessary equipment as well as repair and maintenance will be paid by the property owner who sought the connection.

The re-zoning for the new hospital—projected to have at least 225 beds plus a campus—has been finalized. Plans have yet to be submitted to the Porter County Plan Commission.

Potholes

In other business, Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg continues to ask motorists to report potholes in need of patching. Call 926-2222 and leave a message after business hours.

Two particularly bad areas, though, about which motorists have been vociferously complaining, are not within the Street Department’s jurisdiction at all, Schnadenberg observed: the north side of Woodlawn Ave. in the Town of Porter; and the private drive at the entrance to the Indian Oak Mall, directly across from Plaza Drive.

By consensus members instructed Schnadenberg to ascertain who exactly owns that private drive and to give that person some helpful advice about properly maintaining the infrastructure.

Eminent Domain

By votes of 4-0, members authorized Town Attorney Chuck Lukmann to initiate two eminent domain proceedings: the first for the four graveled lots, each 25’ x 150’, immediately across the street from the town hall at 726 Broadway, for use as public parking. The Tonner family owns those lots and had originally offered to sell them to the town at a cost of $25,000 each. The average of two appraisals, however, put the total value of the property at $40,625, which is the maximum under state statute which the town can offer.

“We certainly appreciate (the Tonner’s family) cooperation in the past and are at a loss to explain the lack of it now,” said President Jim Ton, R-1st.

The second eminent domain proceeding is for less than an acre at the southeast corner of the intersection of Dickinson Road and East Porter Ave. That property is needed for an upgrade of the Dickinson Road lift station, which the Lake Erie Land Company is legally obligated to perform at its own expense.

At its meeting last week the Utility Service Board unanimously voted to ask the council to initiate an eminent domain proceeding against the two property owners in question, who have declined to sell the land at the offered maximum of $43,250.

New Squads

Meanwhile, and at the request of Police Chief George Nelson, members voted 4-0 to approve an expenditure of $83,289.75 in Cumulative Capital Development (CCD) funds for the purchase of this year’s ration of new squad cars for the Chesterton Police Department: three Dodge Chargers from Harbor Superstores in Michigan City.

CCD, funded with a dedicated tax rate, is used exclusively for the purchase of emergency vehicles.

At its meeting earlier this month, the Police Commission voted unanimously to endorse the purchase.

CFD

Fire Chief Warren “Skip” Highwood told the council that the bids for the aerial are still being reviewed. He expects to be able to make a recommendation at its next meeting, March 10.

The CFD has responded to 75 calls so far in February, Highwood added, and to 178 in the year-to-date.

Liaison to Engineer

At the recommendation of Member Jeff Trout, R-2nd, the council voted 4-0 to create a new liaison position, this one to the Town Engineer, and to bundle it with the present position of liaison to the Building Department.

Trout, as current liaison to the Building Department, will accordingly serve in the new position.

Fundraiser Approved

By consensus members agreed to authorize the Duneland Alternative Learning Center to hold a 5k run/walk on March 15 at Chesterton Middle School to benefit Riley Children’s Hospital.

The event will begin at 9 a.m., with registration at 8:30 a.m.

Re: Trains

From the floor Ray Carnes issued his annual warning to the council that creepy-crawly trains continue to split the town in two, endangering residents on the north side in the event emergency responders are forced to cool their heels at a blocked grade crossing.

Years ago, Carnes noted, trains westbound on the present Norfolk Southern line used to stop in Jackson Township to wait their turn in the diamond cross-over, allowing them to be fully up to speed by the time they hit town. Now they stop immediately east of the Northside Diner, which means, Carnes said, that it can take them as long as 15 minutes to pass through town and clear all five grade crossings.

Carnes urged the council to re-locate the Chesterton Fire Department to the east side of Ind. 49, which would allow the CFD in a pinch to respond to virtually any call in town without the need to cross railroad tracks.

Posted 2/26/2008