By KEVIN NEVERS

This morning Indiana-American Water Company (IAWC) was scheduled to hold a pre-construction meeting in the Chesterton town hall prior to breaking ground on two water-main replacement projects on tap this fall.

That means motorists will soon have to start finding detours again.

At the Town Council’s meeting Monday night, Utility Superintendent Steve Yagelski indicated that IWAC would begin with the 14th Street and Woodlawn Ave. projects:

•3,620 feet of eight-inch main to be installed on the west side of 14th Street between Washington Ave. and Park Ave. and on the east side of 14th Street between Park Ave. and West Indiana Ave., with approximately six open road-cut street crossings.

•4,840 feet of eight-inch and six-inch to be installed on the north side of Woodlawn Ave.—the Town of Porter’s side of the street—between Waverly Road and North Calumet road, with approximately nine open road-cut street crossings.

IAWC initially planned to undertake two additional projects this fall but has postponed them: 2,220 feet of 12-inch and eight-inch main to be installed on the east side of North Calumet Road between Indian Boundary Road and a point south of the Norfolk Southern grade-crossing; and 960 feet of eight-inch and six-inch main to be installed on the east side of South Jackson Blvd. between Porter Ave. and West Morgan Ave.

President Jim Ton, R-1st, expressed some concern about the autumn start date. “It still seems like late in the year to begin such a huge project,” he said.

“They think they can get it done,” Yagelski replied.

Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg has advised IAWC that whatever projects are begun this year must be finished this year and all road cuts patched, well before the asphalt plants close.

Deal on Salt

In other business, Schnadenberg had a bit of good news—relatively speaking—for the council: he’s been able to secure a one-time purchase of 500 tons of street salt at a price of $60 per ton, $43.63 less per ton than the contract price which Morton Salt has foisted on the town.

Schnadenberg snapped up that deal—saving Chesterton around $20,000—and approximately three-quarters of the salt has already been delivered. “Now,” however, Schnadenberg said, “I’ve got to figure out how to pay for it.”

Members made it simple and voted 4-0 to approve an expenditure of $30,250 in CEDIT funds from the emergency earmark. Member Dave Cincoski, R-3rd, was not in attendance.

Last year the town’s contract price for street salt was $41.23 per ton. At $103.63 per ton this year, that price has skyrocketed by 151 percent. Morton Salt is saying that there’s a national shortage of the stuff, caused by tremendous consumption last winter.

Playground Equipment

At Park Superintendent Bruce Mathias’ request, members also voted 4-0 to approve an expenditure of up to $50,000 in CEDIT funds for the purchase of new playground equipment for Coffee Creek Park.

Earlier this year the council approved a total earmark of $100,000 for new playground equipment for Coffee Creek Park and Kipper Park and scheduled an earmark in 2009 of $100,000 for new equipment for Dogwood Park.

Decorative Streetlights

In response to a query from Steve Brickner, one of the owners of The Flower Cart, members agreed by consensus to purchase a pair of decorative streetlights to be installed along the east side of South Calumet Road in front of the business’s new location next to the offices of the Chesterton Tribune.

Brickner will need to pay all of the costs associated with the installation.

Schnadenberg estimated the cost of a pair of streetlights at $5,200. They will match the existing Downtown streetlights and be spaced identically.

Mechanic Wanted

Schnadenberg announced that he will soon be advertising for a mechanic, to replace an 11-year veteran of the Street Department who recently submitted his two-week notice.

Trick-or-Treat

Police Chief George Nelson reminded the council that the Police Commission has set trick-or-treat this year for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31: Halloween.

Meanwhile, Nelson noted, the Chesterton Police Department has responded to 1,008 calls so far in September and to 10,047 in the year-to-date.

Fire Chief Warren “Skip” Highwood advised the council that two vehicles—an engine and the ambulance—are currently out of service. The Fire Department has responded to 92 calls so far in September and to 858 in the year-to-date, he noted.

Posted 9/23/2008