By PAULENE POPARAD

Meeting Tuesday, the Porter Town Council put some bite behind its bark and authorized Indiana American Water Co. to disconnect water service to town residents who don’t pay their sewer bill.

Associate town attorney Patrick Lyp said after 30 days a certified letter will be sent to the property owner notifying them of the delinquency. If they refuse to pay, IAWC will be advised that water service to that location should be turned off.

Sewer delinquencies have been a problem for Porter since at least 2003. At one time the unpaid bills totaled over $60,000 but in recent months the council has made an effort to take the largest accounts to court or to accept payment plans to reduce the debt.

Not all town residents have IAWC service so those delinquencies will continue to be handled through the courts. Under a previous agreement IAWC soon takes over Porter’s sewer billing, which includes the town’s refuse/recycling fee.

Last night, Clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy asked to hire a replacement utility clerk now, initially at $8.50 per hour, to train with long-time utility clerk Carmen Lorenz, who is retiring this fall. After one year Pomeroy suggested the new clerk be paid $18,700.

Council President Paul Childress questioned hiring another clerk with IAWC doing Porter’s sewer billing. Pomeroy said other records need to be kept.

That led to a discussion how the town will begin assessing its monthly stormwater fee on land parcels to finance unfunded mandates for the federal MS4 stormwater protection program. No fees have been collected yet this year.

Council member Jennifer Granat suggested finding out how much it would cost to have the fee included on Porter County tax bills because county offices would have the most up-to-date information on property transfers.

Childress said a decision on the utility clerk should be delayed pending how the MS4 billing is resolved. Also tabled until Aug. 8 was the clerk-treasurer’s request that $300,000 of the town’s county economic development income tax or CEDIT revenue be earmarked to repay the general fund’s outstanding loan from the Porter Redevelopment Commission.

The town has been behind the financial eight-ball since late 2003 when the previous council overspent its appropriations. Additional reversals occurred, the latest this year when the state ordered the 2006 budget be reduced to satisfy an error made by Porter County tax officials in 2005. Pomeroy said unless something is done the town will lurch from loan to loan with the problem never being resolved.

Last year $500,000 was borrowed and repaid with tax revenue.

As for the 2007 budget, Pomeroy was authorized to publish it and conduct a public hearing Aug. 22. No budget figures were discussed but Pomeroy said a $200,000 excess levy appeal is being sought. A $260,000 levy appeal was approved this year.

Also Tuesday:

• Public Works Director Karl Bauer was authorized to hire three full-time employees replacing three who have or are leaving. If not, the department would be left with five full-time employees. Bauer said estimates are being obtained for a widening and reconstruction of Carlson Corners from Mineral Springs to Pearson Road, and for improvements to Roskin Road at Porter Beach and Baillytown roads. Bauer said a guard rail has been installed at the end of Glacier Trail at the beach.

• Building Commissioner Brenda Brueckheimer suggested taking out some sand on the side of State Street next to the handicap parking spaces so a loading/drop-off zone could be added at Porter Beach. She also said she’s developed a spreadsheet by district to chart progress on zoning issues. She was commended for her work to-date, including enforcing no-parking zones at the beach.

• The council agreed to conduct a public hearing on Trevor Kelly’s request to change the name of the 500 block of Hjelm Road to Catfish Lane because “it’s cool and whimsical.” Kelly said the four property owners on the block concur. “I don’t think that will tarnish the memory of Chief Hjelm.” The road is named after former Chesterton town marshal Alvin Hjelm but Kelly said it’s hard to find and to spell.

• Kim Rubens was given permission for an Aug. 12 wedding at Porter Beach. Councilman Bill Sexton commended Rubens for complying with town regulations regarding public assemblies, especially at the beach; providing a bond and insurance were waived.

• The council increased the cost of handgun permit fees in line with a new state law regarding lifetime gun permits.

• Rescinded was the automatic replacement levy for the town’s tax-increment financing or TIF district.

• It was announced Trudi Gallagher, appointed earlier this year, has resigned from the three-member Porter Stormwater Management Board. A replacement is being sought. Applications can be sent to the town hall, 303 Franklin St.

• Park Superintendent Jim Miller said that board is drafting a rental form for festivals that take place on park grounds. He also said dredging/cleaning of Dune Meadows pond has been approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers although final state approval is pending.

• Pomeroy said all Porter Beach parking permits are sold out for the year in record time.

• The Porter Redevelopment Commission met briefly prior to the Town Council. It was announced that an archeological study of the route of the proposed Porter Brickyard hike/bike trail has been completed satisfactorily with no problems anticipated.

Posted 7/26/2006