The Town of Porter received $15,000 Tuesday earmarked for improvements at Porter Beach.

Delivering the money was State Sen. Karen Tallian, a member of the Lake Michigan Marina Development Commission whose seat represents Ogden Dunes, Burns Harbor, Dune Acres, Porter and Beverly Shores.

According to its director of engineering and development, Matt Keiser, Porter applied in June for $10,250 to repair a damaged gate at the town’s parking lot; for $28,500 to retrofit beach access that has no place for a wheelchair to turn around; and for $50,000 to do a study regarding reclamation of privately held beach property currently under water to determine if the lots could be used as legal building sites.

Keiser said the gate repair and as much of the wheelchair turnaround as can be funded will be done with the $15,000. The town may seek additional grants including money from the Lake Michigan Coastal Program to complete the project list.

Tallian told reporters each of the five towns in her shoreline district stands to receive $15,000 if they had eligible projects submitted. The money was part of interest earned on allocated but unused LMMDC funds the commission decided to divide among members’ districts.

The Porter Town Council thanked Tallian for the $15,000 check.

She also told the council that, although it was created by legislation, no appointments ever were made to the Lake Michigan Shoreline Development Commission and an effort will be made in Indianapolis to combine it with the LMMDC.

Keiser had more good news that two Porter paving projects will be done next summer completely funded with federal stimulus dollars.

The Indiana Department of Transportation let bids recently of $187,096 to mill and resurface Oak Hill Road from Indiana 49 to U.S. 20, and $188,809 to do the same on Waverly Road from U.S. 12 to north of Interstate 94. Both bids were below engineer’s estimates.

Keiser additionally announced several town departments will cooperate working diligently to identify illegal sump-pump connections that direct rainwater into town sewers, eventually overwhelming sewage lift stations and leading to sewer system overflows.

Porter is under an agreed order with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to upgrade its sewage collection system that feeds into the Chesterton sewage treatment plant.

Porter residents have a part to play in IDEM compliance, said Keiser, and the town will provide them with recommendations where to pump stormwater once separated from sewers.

In a related matter, Keiser advised the council that the Porter Stormwater Management Board authorized engineering and design work for the intersection of Wood Street and 23rd Street to address water problems in the Porter Ridge subdivision, and at Eugene Street and Portage Avenue to open a clogged arm of Peterson Ditch.

With very little discussion the council voted 4-0 under suspension of the rules with Micheal Genger absent to adopt a nine-page ordinance authorizing future temporary loans and tax-anticipation warrants through the Indiana Bond Bank, and pledging future property taxes to make repayment.

Town attorney Patrick Lyp said Porter is not borrowing any money at this time, only putting in place the vehicle to do it.

Said council president Michele Bollinger, “We’re just preparing.”

The ordinance predicts there will be an insufficient amount of money in various funds to meet the town’s operating expenses in 2010. The town has relied on internal loans between funds to make payroll and expenses, but Bollinger has said keeping cash tied up in loans prevents the town from doing many things it needs to do.

Porter like all Porter County’s government units has been hit hard because the county’s 2009 tax bills, typically due in May and November, weren’t mailed until late last month and are due Dec. 4. Distribution of receipts might not take place until early 2010.

Maximum amounts for future town borrowing were set at $917,644 for the General Fund; $97,562 for the Park Fund; $77,284 for the Lease/Rental Fund; $483,651 for the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund; and $215,074 for the Fire Fund.

A separate action was unanimous approval of the Park Department’s proposed 2010 salary ordinance, which contains no raises.

The park superintendent will be paid $49,862 annually; park administrator $17,407 a year and $50 per meeting as recording secretary; park arts and crafts director $1,575 annually; A&C assistant $7.87 per hour; park laborer $10.69 per hour; and Park Board members each $50 per meeting.

Bollinger announced the Porter Fire Department now is collecting Toys for Tots at the fire station in a designated drop box, and canned goods also are being sought for needy families this holiday season.

Both collections run until Dec. 20. Bollinger asked the public to be sure the freshness date on donated canned goods has not expired. According to fire chief Lewis Craig, said Bollinger, last year one-third of the donated food was expired and had to be thrown away.

By unanimous vote on the recommendation of police chief James Spanier the council also declared that excess property --- found bicycles not claimed and held for over one year --- be released so they can be rebuilt by the Public Works Department.

PW superintendent Brenda Brueckheimer asked that, pending availability, families wanting to receive a bicycle leave their name at the Beam Street municipal building; donations of gently-used bicycles also are being accepted.

Regarding leaf pick-up, which still is going on, Brueckheimer reminded residents leaves will not be picked up in alleys; she asked that leaves be raked or bagged and brought to the front. Yard waste also can be brought directly to the street garage at 550 W. Beam St.

In other business, Keiser announced a final draft copy of the proposed Porter Beach zoning overlay has been posted on the town website at www.townofporter.com

 and will be available soon at the town hall. Forwarded with a 5-0 favorable recommendation from the town Plan Commission, the council will consider the overlay for final adoption Dec. 8.

Town building commissioner Art Elwood said he’s working with attorney Lyp to start the condemnation process for a home at 1890 Old Porter Rd. Elwood said the property has been vacant for one year and the town needs to do something about it. Lyp said he’ll have a report Dec. 8.

Posted 11/25/2009