By PAULENE POPARAD

Stormwater making its way into Porter town sewers on certain days for three consecutive months has led to more flow than allowed going to the Chesterton sewage treatment plant.

Under the terms of an agreement between the two towns, that means Porter can’t allow any more sewer connections until the matter is resolved. Porter building commissioner Art Elwood said as of Tuesday there were no pending permits for home construction.

The sewer freeze was bad news for Mark Zaranski, who has been trying for 13 months to connect his East Oak Hill Road home to Porter sewers at the recommendation of the Porter County Health Department because his septic system is in need of major repairs.

The Porter Town Council needs permission from Chesterton for Zaranski’s tap-on because he lives in unincorporated Westchester Township. Porter council president Bill Sexton told Zaranski he hopes to have a resolution with Chesterton soon and get permission for his connection.

Sexton said the instances of flow exceedences corresponded with heavy rain events coupled with snow melt causing surface water to infiltrate sanitary sewers. “This is an aberration we see here.” He said the same thing happened last year requiring Porter to show it wasn’t actual sewer flow that increased.

Porter is under a binding agreed order with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to upgrade its sewer collection system including lift stations; preliminary work includes studying where stormwater inflow/infiltration occurs and how best to remove it.

Town engineer Warren Thiede reported that newly purchased monitoring meters to record flow in dry periods and after rains will be deployed soon at key sewer locations starting with the downtown.

Thiede submitted a proposal to locate within 1/4 inch Porter’s manholes, inlets, culverts, catch basins and the like using satellite-aided global positioning system technology. Currently such information is on a town map with some at exact locations and some rough estimates.

“We believe (GPS mapping) will be a tremendous asset to the town for present jobs and future projects,” Thiede advised, noting the field work should be done before the trees leaf out.

"That’s pretty precise. Do you need to be accurate within 1/4 inch?” asked Councilman Jon Granat. At an approximately $20,000 pricetag for surveying, drafting and putting the information on autocad drawings with elevations, the council decided to hold off for the time being and revisit the issue in the fall.

In other business Tuesday:

•Police chief James Spanier warned motorists to watch their speed through Porter because new top-of-the-line radar detectors have been installed in patrol cars thanks to an anonymous donor. He said the sophisticated equipment can pick out the fastest car among several coming or going.

•At Spanier’s request the council agreed to purchase two squad cars, one for patrol and one for detectives, at a total price of $49,877. With $71,000 budgeted the balance will be carried over to buy additional squad cars next year.

•The chief also advised that after three years the computer-aided dispatch software is up and working well. “I’m extremely happy and there was a time I never thought we’d see this day.” Sexton asked if HB1001, requiring sweeping changes in Hoosier local government, would affect Porter’s local radio dispatch ; Spanier said not to his knowledge but the town attorney will check.

•Nancy Hiat of the Porter Cove Homeowners Association commended Spanier, Elwood and Public Works director Brenda Brueckheimer for their timely response when contacted about matters.

•Elwood reported he is working with the Porter County Health Department regarding a home with no water service as well as on two locations where he ordered trash clean-up. One faces a separate citation each day if not in compliance by a deadline.

•Clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy was given permission to sell $10 tickets at the town hall for the June 7 Gary Railcats baseball game. The event will be one of several this year honoring Porter’s 150th birthday; special recognition at the 6 p.m. ball game is planned.

Posted 4/10/2008