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By VICKI URBANIK A new program intended to reduce erosion and control runoff in the Chain of Lakes watershed in Liberty and Center townships is now finalized. The Porter County Commissioners on Tuesday signed on to an ordinance that requires developers who plan to build in the watershed to have their drainage plans independently reviewed first to ensure that the new construction won’t negatively impact the lakes area. The area affected is bounded by C.R. 700N on the north, Bullseye Lake Road on the south, Meridian Road on the west and Calumet Avenue on the east. The new drainage program is modeled after one already in place by the Porter County Plan Commission for new developments in the county’s unincorporated areas. But the Chain of Lakes project is considered the first of its kind, since it is a collaborative effort among three different governmental units: The county, the city of Valparaiso, and the Valparaiso Lakes Area Conservancy. All three entities have signed on to the new ordinance. All three have also agreed that the independent reviews will be done by the Christopher B. Burke Engineering, an Indianapolis firm with offices in Crown Point and South Bend. The cost of the reviews will be up to the developers. Porter County Plan Commission Executive Director Robert Thompson said the Burke firm is well known for its environmental work on new developments. North Porter County Commissioner John Evans sought assurances that all three parties will be made aware of all drainage reviews. It was noted that some developments in the affected area would fall under the jurisdiction of the city of Valparaiso, while others might be in unincorporated areas. But County Attorney Gwenn Rinkenberger said that because all three entities have contracted with the Burke firm, contract law requires that all three receive their reports. The idea for the multi-governmental program had its roots at a meeting in October of 2007, when a number of residents of the Flint Lake area shared horror stories about excessive flooding, siltation, and erosion in the lakes. The problems were attributed to new developments that were allowed to be built without regard for how the runoff would affect the lakes area. County Commissioner President Robert Harper said it’s taken some time for the new drainage program to be finalized, since three different government entities are involved. “We’re getting to the end of a long road,” he said of the project. Jail Fee Reinstated The commissioners agreed to transfer $40,000 from the county income tax funds to keep afloat a drug and alcohol counseling program for inmates at the Porter County Jail. The program, which is provided under a contract with Porter-Starke Services, had been funded by a $25 booking fee, but that fee was halted last year amid concerns that it violated a new state law that now requires a conviction before such a fee can be charged. County Attorney Gwenn Rinkenberger and Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel have come up with an alternative: Charge the booking fee as in the past, but return the money if the inmates are later found not-guilty. Rinkenberger said she believes the previous booking fee was never in violation of the law, since police make arrests and hold prisoners based on probable cause. She said she is even more comfortable with the new fee methodology and would be willing to defend it if necessary. Because it will take some time to amend the fee ordinance before the fee can be reinstated, the fund is experiencing a shortfall, prompting the commissioners to tap the CEDIT funds as a stop-gap measure to cover four months of the program. Redevelopment Final Also Tuesday, the commissioners granted final approval to the creation of a Redevelopment Advisory Commission, as preliminarily approved in January. The new commission will advise the commissioners on development issues, particularly along the county’s major roadways, in the unincorporated areas. Unlike other redevelopment commissions, the county board won’t have the power to establish Tax Increment Finance Districts but can seek grants and hire an executive director. The commission will consist of five members, three of whom will be appointed by the commissioners and two by the Porter County Council. Interested individuals can pick up an application at the commissioners office. The council appointments are on the agenda for the next council meeting on Tuesday. New Precincts? The commissioners formed a committee to begin the process of redrawing precincts. The Voter Registration Office has proposed redrawing the boundaries in part because some have grown in population beyond state requirements. Evans said before any precincts are redrawn, Voter Registration first needs to purge deceased or otherwise ineligible voters, and then see how the precincts might be affected. The commissioners agreed that the committee is to consist of three members, one each appointed by the Democrat and Republican party chairs and one by the Porter County Election Board. That’s the same composition of another committee studying the possibility of vote centers. In other business, the commissioners appointed Rudy Sutton as their representative to the Little Calumet River Basin Commission. They also approved contracts with Expo Center caterers and concession vendors. Expo renters can now choose from 17 different caterers, seven more than in the past. The commissioners also proclaimed March 1-7 as Women In Construction Week, as requested by the Northwest Indiana chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction.
Posted 2/20/2009
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