Motorists on Ind. 49 who’ve sensed something different about signalization
at the intersections of Indian Boundary Road, East Porter Ave., and 1100
aren’t imagining things.
At the Chesterton Town Council’s meeting Monday night, Town Engineer Mark
O’Dell noted that the LaPorte District of the Indiana Department of
Transportation, in an effort to optimize flow, has tinkered with the timing
of the signals.
Motorists, he said, will notice one of two changes. Either the signals have
been split, so that all traffic in a given direction--both through and
left-turning--get the green at the same time. Or else the signals have not
been split but through traffic will get the green first, then left-turning
will get it next, reversing the accustomed order.
O’Dell did say that INDOT did not notify the town in general or the
Chesterton Police Department in particular before making the changes. INDOT,
he added, is continuing to tweak the timing.
On the subject of INDOT, President Emerson DeLaney asked O’Dell to
communicate two concerns to the LaPorte District: first, the need to
re-stripe or grind out the old lane line on northbound Ind. 49, just north
of Indian Boundary Road, where it now jogs; second, the need to remove the
silt fencing from the side of the road near Burger King, a relic of road
work long completed.
O’Dell said that he would speak to INDOT about those matters.
1100N to close
In other business, Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg announced the
closure, beginning on Monday, May 4, of 1100N between 23rd Street and just
east of Pearson Road.
Wolverine Pipeline will be doing some work which had originally been
scheduled for last year but was postponed, Schnadenberg said.
The closure is expected to remain in effect for seven to eight working days.
Second Street
House
Meanwhile, members voted 4-0 to hold a hearing at its May 26 meeting on a
house in the 700 block of South Second Street damaged by fire last year.
Member Dave Cincoski, R-3rd, was not in attendance.
Associate Town Attorney Chuck Parkinson said that Building Commissioner Mike
Orlich is preliminarily of the opinion that the house is unsafe under Town
Code and is seeking an order from the council to issue an order either to
make all necessary repairs or otherwise to raze it.
Parkinson said that the proper parties will be given notification of the
hearing.
Salary Ordinance
Amended
Members also voted 4-0 to approve on first reading an ordinance which will
remunerate Interim Utility Engineer O’Dell $500 per week until that position
is permanently filled, 4-0 to suspend the rules, then 4-0 to approve that
ordinance on final reading.
That ordinance was unanimously approved by the Utility Service Board at its
meeting last week, and was recommended by Town Manager Bernie Doyle, who has
said that the additional responsibilities shouldered temporarily by O’Dell
entitle him to the compensation.
Building
Commissioner Search
Doyle advised members that a short list of seven candidates has been
compiled for the position of building commissioner, and that those
candidates will be interviewed on Wednesday and Thursday.