By PAULENE POPARAD

Residents from Porter’s Sunset Avenue neighborhood looked stunned Tuesday when an Indiana American Water Co. representative said it would cost them about $3,800 per household to extend a water line there based on 27 lots participating.

That’s in addition to an approximately $1,500 per-home cost to connect the 8-inch main in the street to their individual home, and an estimated $50 water bill every two months.

About a dozen residents turned out at the request of the Town Council to hear the details and gauge interest. Council President Bill Sexton said the town doesn’t have the $102,000 for the 2,420-foot project, which would increase by $5,000 if homes on Berg Street are added.

IAWC operations supervisor Roberto Pena said there would be no tap-on fee to connect. There is a way for the residents to spread their respective $3,800 cost over time, he added, but at least 75 to 80 percent of the homes would have to participate.

When Sexton asked who would do so if the cost were reasonable, six people raised their hands.

In 2003 Sunset-area residents petitioned IAWC for municipal water; the homes, located south of U.S. 20 east of Highway Street, now are served by private wells. IAWC operations supervisor/new business Elizabeth Loudermilk said her current estimates are based on older data and could change somewhat.

“Why should we have to pay?” asked Earl Graves, who’s lobbied for the water extension.

Sexton said the town allows IAWC to use public rights-of-way to sell its product. He asked if a discount could be arranged. “We won’t see a return on an investment in water lines; you are,” he told Pena and Loudermilk.

Council member Paul Childress said it’s his recollection 50 percent of the town’s share of the Porter County Economic Development Income Tax or CEDIT was supposed to be used for infrastructure improvements. Clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy said $180,000 is being used to upgrade the Oak Hill sanitary-sewer lift station, now under reconstruction, and Sexton said CEDIT money was used to survey Porter Beach.

Sexton said the town needs to be creative to get the Sunset water line funded. “I wouldn’t raise the issue if I didn’t think it’s do-able.” But before the town commits, he added, a goal of 80 percent participation would be sought.

"We need to know exactly what it will cost,” replied William Maluvac. “I’d love to have it but it has to be reasonable.”

Loudermilk was asked to update her project costs, and to provide an additional estimate for extending a water line to the neighborhood including Vine and Truman streets between Interstate 94 and Old Porter Road west of South Mineral Springs Road.

Sewer decision postponed

Also Tuesday, Mark Zaranski of 60 E. Oak Hill Road in unincorporated Westchester Township renewed his previous request to tap onto a Town of Porter sanitary sewer. He said the Porter County Health Department notified him Porter has expanded its sewage capacity at the Chesterton treatment plant, so he’s asking to tie in.

Childress asked why Zaranski wasn’t seeking annexation instead. He said less than 1/12 of his property is contiguous with Porter town limits. Town attorney Patrick Lyp said a minimum 1/8 contiguity is required. Zaranski said his neighbors have no interest in seeking annexation to make his land more contiguous. Lyp said Zaranski could be asked to sign a waiver agreeing to a future annexation if his sewer connection is approved.

Childress said Porter taxpayers are supporting sanitary-sewer upgrades and it would be terribly unfair to allow Zaranski to tap on when some Porter residents don’t have sewers. Zaranski said he would not be receiving any other town services, and would pay a sewer bill.

Sexton asked that council members be prepared to discuss Zaranski’s request Nov. 13. Member Jennifer Granat was absent Tuesday.

Sign coming out?

The freestanding monument sign identifying the Porter Public Works building at 550 Beam St. creates a blind spot and is a traffic hazard, said fire chief Lewis Craig and Public Works superintendent Brenda Brueckheimer. “It just is a visual nightmare,” she told the Town Council, especially with school buses so close from nearby Yost Elementary School.

But how would the concrete structure, 6 feet deep reinforced with rebar, be moved in hopes of relocating it without damaging it? Brueckheimer was asked to obtain proposals to move it if town equipment couldn’t do the job.

She reported that the Beam Street sanitary-sewer rehabilitation should start in about 10 days and a road closure and parking ban will go into effect block-by-block only as it becomes necessary.

Brueckheimer announced the leaf pick-up schedule for Porter will be based on the boundaries of the town’s five Town Council districts. Leaves are to be raked to the curb but not block ditches or swales. Pick-up will be the first week of the month in Districts 1 and 2; Districts 2 and 3 the second week; Districts 3 and 4 the third week; and Districts 4 and 5 the fourth week.

In other business last night:

• Sexton announced Art Elwood was hired to replace Brueckheimer as building commissioner and code enforcement officer. Elwood also is a police officer.

• Craig said the Porter Fire Department year-to-date has responded to 458 calls which ties the total calls in 2006. “We’re setting all kinds of records.”

• Police Chief James Spanier reminded residents that Halloween trick-or-treat hours Oct. 31 are from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Extra police will be on patrol. He also asked residents to keep their vehicles locked and to report any suspicious behavior as it occurs. Nancy Hiatt of the Porter Cove Homeowners Assn. thanked Spanier for his department’s response to a recent rash of thefts from vehicles there.

• An indoor garage sale, bake sale and Fire Department open house all take place Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Public Works building. Money raised from the sale will benefit next year’s Porter sesquicentennial celebration.

• Park Department superintendent Jim Miller thanked the Stevens Family for a donation of an 8,899-square-foot parcel of land on the corner of Hokanson Street and U.S. 20. There are no immediate plans for the property. He also thanked Nancy Hokanson for a $100 donation to the parks, and encouraged residents to give the Park Board ideas to update its five-year plan.

Posted 10/24/2007