The Chesterton Town Council has agreed to sell a piece of park property to a couple who want to build a house on the lot.

At their meeting Monday night, members voted 5-0 on second reading to approve the sale of Lot 5 in the Dunewood Estates subdivision—at 1192 Woodland Drive—to Adam Rick and Nicole Negowetti, for a price of $25,000, the average of the two appraisals required under Indiana Code for the sale of municipal property.

The developer of Dunewood Estates—under Town Code at the time—was required to donate the lot to the Parks and Recreation Department for its development of a community park. But the Park Board subsequently determined that it has no use for it, inasmuch as Dogwood Park is just down the street, on 1100N, and that it will put no money into it.

At a public hearing on the sale at the council’s last meeting, a neighbor objected, on the ground that it was her understanding that, if not actually developed as a community park, Lot 5 would nevertheless be left as green space for use by residents.

On Monday, Member Jim Ton, R-1st, said that he “viewed the property” after the public hearing and “talked to some people” and has concluded that Lot 5 “isn’t suitable as a park,” that “it belongs to the Park Board,” and that “they need the money.”

On the other hand, Ton expressed his sympathy for the residents, who “quite rightly feel that when we required developers to keep land undeveloped for a park and then we turn around and sell the land, it’s disingenuous.”

“Outweighing their concerns,” though, is that fact that Lot 5 “belongs to the Park Board, they don’t want it, and they need the money,” Ton said.

Ton did confirm with Associate Town Attorney Julie Paulson that the sale would in no way set a precedent which the council would not want to set.

In other business, Police Chief Dave Cincoski announced that the CPD has been awarded a federal grant for the purchase of bulletproof vests.

That grant, in the amount of $3,285, is sufficient to pay for half of the six vests which will need to be replaced over the next two years, Cincoski said.

Meanwhile, Fire Chief Mike Orlich reported that the CFD will need to acquire a new computer by the end of the year, after having been informed by the Porter County 911 Dispatch Center that it will no longer provide free system software for the current computer, used to submit mandated reports to the Indiana Fire Marshall’s Office.

“We need a new computer by Jan. 1,” Orlich said. “Hopefully, we’ll get free software from the state.”

Orlich added that he will provide the council with additional information and noted that the necessary expenditure could be made with CEDIT funds.

Orlich also reported that he believes three presentations made last week to different audiences on the proposed municipal advanced support ambulance service went well: one to the Chesterton/Porter Rotary Club, one to Porter Regional Hospital staffers, and one a public session at the town hall (reported by the Chesterton Tribune).

At the latter, Orlich said, eight residents and three non-residents asked him a variety of questions about the ways and means of the proposed ambulance service.

“I thought it went well,” Orlich told the council.

Orlich said that he should have a report summarizing the presentations for the council at its next meeting, Nov. 13.

Finally, Orlich reported that Engine 510 is out of service with busted springs.

Posted 10/23/2012