By VICKI URBANIK

A communications tower in Liberty Township that has generated complaints from neighbors has prompted the Porter County Commissioners to seek new regulations on lighting at such facilities.

As proposed, the ordinance would prohibit artificial illumination at telecommunications facilities. The towers could not have flashing white obstruction lights during the nighttime, except if dictated by state or federal agencies. If the lighting is required, the lighting must be duel lighting to consist of red lights for nighttime and medium intensity flashing white lights for daytime and twilight hours, under the proposal.

North Porter County Commissioner John Evans said the proposed regulation stems from the communications tower on the west side of Ind. 49 in Liberty Township. He said he has received numerous complaints from neighboring residents upset about the lighting at the tower.

“It’s pretty intrusive,” Evans said.

Porter County Plan Commission Executive Director Robert Thompson said the county’s master plan, known as the Unified Development Ordinance, has a section about tower illumination that basically states that the lighting should adhere to rules in place by federal agencies, like the Federal Aviation Administration. But Thompson said the FAA and the Federal Communications Commission appear to have only guidelines on lighting and not set rules.

The commissioners needed to agree to forward their proposed ordinance to the plan commission first. Then the plan commission will then consider whether to amend the UDO and then forward it back to the commissioners for final adoption.

Evans described the ordinance as an attempt to “make good neighbors” in the Liberty Township case, as well as other cases countywide.

Also Tuesday, the commissioners heard an insurance report from Mike Anton and Leigh Westergreen of Anton Insurance. The commissioners approved a contract with Porter-Starke Services for an employee assistance program, in which the mental health agency will provide services to county employees for a token fee of $1. The program has been in place for about 10 years.

Anton also announced that an insurance program for employees with chronic illnesses has saved the county about $170,000, or a return of more than 10 times the cost to county government. He also said that the county has had about a 50 percent increase in participation in a wellness program offered by Hoosier Health Care. On a less positive note, Westergreen said a disease management program offered as part of the county’s health benefit package hasn’t had as much participation among employees as it could, and that efforts are underway to encourage more people who qualify for the benefit to use it.

Also Tuesday, the commissioners approved a request from the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce to use the County Administration Center’s parking garage for the chamber’s annual luau event. The commissioners have heard concerns from county staff involving leftover trash and use of the building during the chamber’s event. Since then, the commissioners and the chamber worked out a set of guidelines.

Posted 3/19/2008