The spirit of Arbor
Day arrives a little early this year for the Town of Porter which will be
the recipient of 100 saplings from State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage.
State
representatives each year are allocated 100 saplings by the Indiana
Department of Natural Resources who then can decide to give them to a town,
city or township within their district. Town Council President Greg Stinson
said at Tuesday night’s meeting that Moseley has decided to give all his to
Porter this year.
It’s a gift the
town could use, Stinson said, since trees have been removed due to disease,
the emerald ash borer and implementation of trails.
“It’s taking time
but we will be replenishing some of our greenery,” Stinson said.
Parks Director
Brian Bugajski thanked both Moseley and Stinson in his department report.
“No need to thank
me. All I did was return a phone call (to Moseley) and say, ‘Sure, we’ll
take’em,’” Stinson said.
Also in park news,
the Council approved Porter United Methodist Church’s request to use the
gazebo in Hawthorne Park for their Easter sunrise service free of charge.
The Indiana Breakers Baseball Travel League was given permission to use the
field at Hawthorne Park for their practices again this year.
Det. Mike Veal
retiring
In other reports to
the Council, Police Chief Jamie Spanier announced that Wednesday will be the
last day before Detective Mike Veal retires from the force after being with
PPD for 13 years.
Spanier said Veal
was with Porter County Sheriff’s Police 30 years prior to that and there’s
hardly been a major case he hasn’t been involved with in some way.
“His knowledge, his
expertise, will be sorely missed,” Spanier said.
While the Town bids
adieu to Veal, the Council welcomed a new hire.
Jennifer Klug, who
regularly attends all town meetings, is now assisting the front desk at the
Town Hall with handling payments as an employee, Stinson said.
GIS
Public Works
Director Brenda Brueckheimer shared that she is pushing for the town to
purchase a GIS mapping system that would be a great tool for things like the
stormwater management system.
Stinson said
Brueckheimer should submit a proposal to the Council members who can then
discuss it at a future meeting. Brueckheimer said she would forward a PDF of
the plan to all members.
Ordinances
In business matters
Tuesday, the Council voted in favor of a resolution for an interlocal
agreement to receive federal aid for the installation of uniform wayfinding
signage along the existing bicycle and walking trails.
The town will
contribute $400 in CEDIT funds towards the match for those federal dollars.
Also, a second
reading of the ordinance on carbon monoxide detectors will take place at the
next Council meeting. The proposed ordinance was changed to require
detectors be installed in newly constructed single-family homes as well as
all new and existing rental units.
Snow fines
An ordinance for an
amendment of the Town’s violation fees will also get a second reading. The
change includes fines related to snow removal and snowfall parking
violations of $50 for the first offense.
Last year the
Council passed an ordinance requiring vehicles be off the streets whenever
there are 3 inches or more of snow in the subdivisions of Baillytown, Dune
Meadows, Hunter’s Glen, Indian Trails, Marquette Point, Porter Beach, Porter
Cove, Summer Tree, Wagner Hills, Woodlake Springs and Woodlawn Acres.
Residents are
required as well to clear sidewalks of ice and snow within 24 hours of a
snowfall or face fines of $50.
Stinson said that
with the updated fee ordinance, the Town will have the authority to collect
fees for those types of violations.