By PAULENE POPARAD

Porter volunteer firefighters now have accident and disability insurance. The Town Council unanimously approved a policy Tuesday that meets its basic obligations under Indiana state code.

Jim Anton and Mike Anton of Anton Insurance presented several coverage options ranging from $5,452 to $12,000 a year. The council chose the lowest one with Provident but left the door open for volunteers to choose more comprehensive coverage if they pay the difference themselves.

Fire Chief Lewis Craig, who is the department’s only full-time employee, said his firefighters would appreciate the best insurance coverage the town can afford. “We put ourselves on the line 24/7 like the Police Department.”

Jim Anton said the annual premium is based on 25 volunteers but that number can fluctuate somewhat and the policy remain intact.

Council president Bill Sexton said because the Porter Fire Department contracts with other entities like Westchester Township and the town of Dune Acres to provide fire protection, those 2009 contracts will include a provision to share the cost of the new insurance.

In other Fire Department news, Craig urged landlords to have their smoke-detector forms filled out and returned by Feb. 29 or face enforcement action. The forms originally were due Jan. 31.

Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission executive director Lorelei Weimer updated the Town Council on PCCRVC’s marketing efforts to promote tourism, and at her request the council voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution opposing a merger of the Porter and Lake County tourism bureaus, which was suggested by Lake but not supported by PCCRVC.

“I don’t see any reason for a merger at all. I don’t know what it’d accomplish,” said Porter Town Council member Dave Babcock. Weimer noted that while the PCCRVC often works cooperatively with other bureaus on a regional basis as needed, Porter’s tourist is more leisure-oriented while Lake’s is often convention-based.

Weimer detailed PCCRVC’s plans to develop an ecology heritage trail linking the Indiana Dunes with Kouts/Hebron and points of interest inbetween. The first of four phases is funded and underway with a consultant hired to evaluate the county’s assets, propose the trails and how to market them. Future project phases would include signage and interpretative, downloadable programs for trail users to enjoy.

Weimer also told the council that Roger Brooks has been hired to do community assessments, especially of their respective downtown areas, and give recommendations this fall for inexpensive solutions to enhance tourism prospects. She said the goal is a team effort to improve communities for tourists and residents alike.

Tourism imports cash into the local economy, stressed Weimer, using the millions of travelers who pass by on the Indiana Toll Road each year as an example. By carving out Porter County’s uniqueness and marketing that, she added, new people will be drawn into the area for extended stays, not just day trips.

In other business Tuesday:

•Porter Police Chief James Spanier announced that an anonymous donor has given $5,000 to the Police Department. The money will be used to purchase three, high-tech radar units to detect speeding motorists. The donor was thanked for enabling the department to buy something it otherwise would do without.

•Babcock, liaison to the Public Works Department, reported pot holes and lift station pumps have been causing lots of trouble lately, but as of last week the Street Department had plenty of road salt on hand for snow emergencies.

•Clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy reported that the last of the 2007 interfund loans has been repaid to the Rainy Day Fund and the town is loan-free, for now. Cash-flow problems resulted for all government entities last year when collection of Porter County property taxes was delayed six months; delays are anticipated again this year.

•After discussion over several meetings, the council voted 5-0 to approve the last of a total $7,066 in cost overruns on the $190,000 rebuild of the Oak Hill sanitary sewer lift station and sewer line upgrade. The council also extended the completion date for LGS Plumbing to finish the project to May 1, by which time asphalt paving will be done and a fence installed.

•The council also approved in three unanimous votes new amendments to the 2006 stormwater ordinance that now require the submission of forms and payment of permit fees to better monitor stormwater control for new construction on parcels greater than 1 acre in size. The permit fee is $200 plus $10 per lot. Non-compliance is subject to fines of up to $2,500 per day.

•Gary Cutter, a member of the Porter Sesquicentennial Committee celebrating the town’s 150th year, won council support for organizing a Town of Porter Day at a Gary Railcats baseball game this summer. Cutter said as many residents as possible would be encouraged to purchase tickets, town officials could throw out the first pitch, and the town would receive scoreboard acknowledgement.

•It was announced Wednesday that members of the Town Council, Redevelopment Commission and Stormwater Board will meet jointly March 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall to discuss the mandates, options and financial ramifications tied to Porter’s agreed order with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to upgrade its sanitary sewer collection system. Public Works Director Brenda Brueckheimer and Building Commissioner Art Elwood also will participate.

Posted 2/14/2008