By VICKI URBANIK

The Porter County Commissioners have given their support to a proposal by a non-profit organization to renovate the historic Collier Lodge on the banks of the Kankakee River.

With Commissioner Carole Knoblock absent, Commissioners Robert Harper and John Evans agreed to apply for a federal grant on behalf of the Kankakee Valley Historical Society, which hopes to renovate the early 1900-era lodge.

According to the group’s webpage

 www.kankakeevelleyhistoricalsociety.org

 the Collier Lodge, also known as the “Hunting Lodge,” was visited by former presidents Teddy Roosevelt, Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland. Offering a good view of the Kankakee River, the lodge has the potential to serve as a meeting site and a place for historical displays and memorabilia.

Society President John Hodson said the commissioners are being asked to apply for the grant through the Federal Housing and Community Development Act because the grant funds are available only to governmental units. He and society secretary Mary Hodson stressed that the non-profit group, and not the commissioners, would do the leg work needed in its role as the grant sub-recipient.

The society has about 100 members and has the stated mission of promoting an interest in the history and cultures of the river area through “preservation, programs, projects and ongoing education.”

The society is seeking a grant of up to $15,000 to conduct a feasibility study. The study would include analyzing the existing Collier Lodge, preparing costs estimate for its renovation, holding public meetings to seek input on the possible uses of a renovated lodge, and making recommendations on how the society could fund continuing operations.

Evans said the enthusiasm for the project shown by the society members “speaks volumes” for the progress the group has made preserving the river site. Harper said he hopes that the society works closely with the Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission and that he’s excited about tourism efforts in the area.

“It’s an exiting area. It has an exciting history,” he said.

The Kankakee River came up again as a meeting topic when County Surveyor Kevin Breitzke reminded the commissioners that they have not yet made their appointment to the Kankakee River Basin Development Commission.

Breitzke said the KRBC must now make a decision on whether it will participate in a federal wetland reserve program, which could bring in upwards of $1 million to wetland preservation efforts for KRBC-owned property along the river. He said county drainage board member Russell Pomeroy has voiced an interested in serving on the KRBC. The commissioners appointed Pomeroy.

The commissioners also heard a complaint from Center Township resident Bob Pastor about speeding problems on C.R. 500N between the 49 Bypass and Silhavy Road. Pastor said that’s the only stretch of county road posted at 40 miles per hour. He also said he’s been getting the run-around from county and Valparaiso city officials when he has urged them to reduce the speed limit.

Harper told Pastor that he would look into the issue and revisit it at the next meeting, but County Attorney Gwenn Rinkenberger, who lives in the area, strongly supported Pastor’s views about the speeding problems on the road. With that, Harper and Evans opted not to study the issue further but to post a lower speed limit the next day.

Also at the commissioners’ meeting, county insurance agent Mike Anton said plans are in the works for an employee benefit fair, to be held at the Porter County Expo Center tentatively in early May. The all-day event will feature health care related vendors. Anton suggested that all county employees be invited to attend.

Also Tuesday, the commissioners endorsed a request from the Porter County Election Board to have the county highway department transport the voting machines to the polling sites in this year’s election. Poll workers used to handle the task in the past, but this would be impossible with the newly purchased machines.

Also, the commissioners appointed Bryant Mitol and Nancy Berning to two vacancies on the County Wildlife Management Advisory Board.

Harper also said, and Evans agreed, that two agencies -- the Family and Youth Services Bureau and the Porter County Community Services -- should submit their own 2007 budgets at this year’s budget hearings. The county funding for those two agencies have been rolled into the commissioners’ budget, but as Harper noted, the commissioners have had no say over their county funding.

Posted 3/13/2006