Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Town Council earmarks $10K for business promotion

Back To Front Page

 

By KEVIN NEVERS

The Chesterton Town Council has earmarked $10,000 in CEDIT moneys for the purpose of promoting local businesses impacted by Gov. Eric Holcomb’s COVID-19 executive orders.

At their meeting Monday night, members voted unanimously to approve a promotional plan intended to give businesses a helping hand and a leg up as the State of Indiana undertakes a gradual re-opening of the economy.

As Member Jennifer Fisher, I-5th, noted, “The stay-at-home restrictions required sacrifices from everyone but business owners have made a great sacrifice.”

The first use of the earmarked funds: the placement of four “Chesterton Strong” banners at strategic locations in town: at East Porter Ave. near Chesterton Cemetery; at the intersection of 1100N and 100E; at the intersection of Indian Boundary Road and North Calumet Road; and at a place to be determined along Ind. 49.

The banner initiative is the result of “very productive discussions” which Fisher and Member Lloyd Kittredge, R-2nd, have had with business leaders. But it won’t be the only one. The Chesterton Branding Leadership Team will be brainstorming other campaigns and submitting promotional ideas to Town Manager Bernie Doyle, who along with Fisher and Kittredge will review and approve  them for funding.

In addition, the council gave a shout-out to Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg and Mark Hopkins, owner of Hopkins Ace Hardware, for the placement of the flashing electronic sign on South Calumet Road, reading “Keep Us Strong. Shop. Dine. Stay.”

Look for the promotional plan to be posted to the Town of Chesterton’s Facebook page and its municipal website at www.chestertonin.org

Sidewalks

In other business, members voted unanimously to approve Schnadenberg’s recommendation for this season’s sidewalk replacement projects:

-- The south side of Broadway between 18th and 19th streets.

-- The north side of East Indiana Ave. between Jeffrey and Roosevelt streets.

-- And the east side of South Calumet Road between Porter Ave. and Jefferson Ave.

Schnadenberg expects the sidewalk work to be done later this season. “There’s a lot of paving to do this summer so let’s stick with three blocks for now,” he said.

Tree Committee Appointee

Members voted unanimously to appoint urban forester Gina Darnell to the Tree Committee, to replace long-serving member Pat Carlisle, who has resigned her seat.

CEDIT Meeting

Members also voted unanimously to hold an in-person CEDIT workshop at 6 p.m. Monday, June 1, in the town hall.

Members discussed the possibility of Zooming that meeting, but decided in the end that CEDIT discussions are complex things, with “so much give-and-take,” as Member Jim Ton, R-1st, put it, that an in-person meeting--assuming nothing changes with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s re-opening schedule--would be far more productive than a remote meeting.

Next Meeting Re-scheduled

In addition, members voted unanimously to re-schedule their next meeting--set to fall on Memorial Day--to the day after, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 26.

Last Thoughts

Member Bob Allison, D-3rd, took a moment at the end of the meeting to express his gratitude to the Chesterton Police Department during National Police Week. “We appreciate what Chief (Dave) Cincoski and all of his officers do for the community,” he said. “But for us National Police Week is every week.”

Member Jim Ton, R-1st, had praise “for all our town employees because the mess we’re in right now has put stress on all workers.” But not to the detriment of the town: “A big atta-boy because things continue to work well in Chesterton.”

And Fisher congratulated Shane Griffin on his official appointment by the Park Board at its meeting last week to the position of Park Superintendent.

 

 

Posted 5/13/2020

 
 
 
 

 

 

Search This Site:

Custom Search