By KEVIN NEVERS

How fast is the Town of Chesterton growing?

This fast, Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg told the Town Council at its meeting Monday night. In 2000 there were 55.65 miles of streets in the certified road inventory. Six years later, there were 68.56 miles, an increase of more than 23 percent.

And, Schnadenberg added, those 68.56 miles do not include the streets constructed in some of the newer subdivisions.

In other news from the Street Department, Schnadenberg said, the closed CSX grade-crossing at the intersection of North Calumet Road and Indian Boundary Road is scheduled–key word “scheduled”–to be re-opened by the end of the week, as crews continue to do repair work. But, Schnadenberg noted, as a rule of thumb he always doubles the scheduled amount of time CSX says it will take to complete a repair.

Meanwhile, 1,265 feet of the 3,000 feet of sidewalk scheduled to be replaced this year have been poured, Schnadenberg said. But the sidewalk program is on hold at the moment as this season’s paving program has commenced. Roberts Road was re-paved last week and Broadway between Sixth Street and Eighth Street and Fifth Street between Porter Ave. and Morgan Ave. were re-paved this week.

While he was at it, Schnadenberg thanked residents waiting for brush collection for their patience. Things are a bit hectic right now, he said, but one dedicated brush crew is working everyday.

New Travel Policy

In other business, members voted 4-0 to approve a revised meal and lodging policy for employees traveling on town business. Under that policy the mileage allowance for employees using their personal vehicles was raised from 40.5 cents per mile to 48.5 cents, the meal allowance raised from $25 per day to $50, and parking and Internet connection fees added to allowable lodging expense.

Revised Annexation Petition

Members also voted 4-0 to schedule a public hearing for its meeting on July 9 on a revised annexation petition submitted by I-80 LLC for the property located immediately east of Ind. 49 and south of the Indiana Toll Road.

Attorney Cliff Fleming, representing I-80 LLC, told members that the petition was revised to include approximately 30 additional acres, to bring the total to 75.03. None of the extra acreage is developable, however, but is merely portions of contiguous state-owned right of way along Ind. 49 and the Toll Road.

I-80 has proposed the construction of a mixed-use development, with approximately 32 acres located adjacent to Ind. 49 devoted to unspecified commercial and the remaining 12 or so acres, further east, to unspecified residential.

CFD

Fire Chief Warren “Skip” Highwood informed members that the Chesterton Fire Department responded to 35 calls in June and 503 in the year-to-date. The CFD is averaging 3.51 calls per day, he added.

Re: Westwood Manor

and Abercrombie Woods

Building Commissioner Mike Orlich advised the council that no one residing in Westwood Manor or Abercrombie Woods has contacted him to seek advice on drainage and stormwater issues since the Stormwater Management Board met last month.