Voice of the People

The LaPorte County Board of Zoning Appeals will again consider the issue of the Great Lakes Garbage Transfer Station. This meeting is of interest to Porter County residents because it involves the Porter-LaPorte County Line Road over which Porter County has legal jurisdiction.

In Nov. 2005, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) gave Sean Blieden of Great Lakes Transfer, a permit to operate a garbage transfer station along County Line Road. County Line Road is a seasonal 10-ton road, subject to frost law and was not intended for this type of heavy industrial traffic. This permit was issued despite the fact that Porter County refused to issue a driveway permit for this operation. The towns of Pines and Beverly Shores, with LaPorte and Porter counties, are appealing the IDEM permit.

The LaPorte County BZA first granted a special zoning exception in Dec. of 2004. After one year, the special exception and building permit expired. On March 26, 2006 BZA passed a resolution giving Great Lakes Transfer till the end of 2006 to get the required permits. At this time, Great Lakes does not have a driveway permit. Porter County Attorney Gwenn Rinkenberger notified LaPorte County and IDEM that a driveway permit will not be issued and according to Porter County resolution, County Line Road will not be upgraded above 10 tons.

The proposed facility is less than one mile from Mt. Baldy and the Dunes National Lakeshore. Porter County would derive no benefit from this facility yet would be required to maintain and police County Line Road.

Attend the BZA meeting at the LaPorte County Complex, 809 State St. LaPorte, Indiana, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006 at 7 p.m. Let the LaPorte County BZA know that Porter County residents oppose this facility.

Sharon Carnes

Posted 12/18/2006