By MARGARET L. WILLIS

After months of waiting, prompting and waiting some more, Burns Harbor finally has an agreement with the Indiana American Water Company for shut-off of water service in cases of non-payment of sewer bills.

The town has been trying to get the agreement, which is standard procedure with municipalities on the water system, in place since early this year.

“It was a memorable moment,” joked clerk-treasurer Jane Jordan.

“We have received a follow-up phone call and a letter,” added attorney Chuck Parkinson, with a smile.

Jordan is to have one more meeting with an IAWC representative on Nov. 16 to finalize the particulars of the agreement.

Trick or Treat

The council unanimously agreed that Halloween Trick-or-Treat will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Halloween night, Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Police Chief Jerry Price said the time would coincide with those of Chesterton and prevent ‘spillover’ of trick-or-treaters from one community to another. Besides which, he added, “It’s a school night and the kids should be home by 8 o’clock.”

In other police business, Price reported the department responded to six accidents in September, one with personal injury; made 18 arrests, five of them felony; issued 72 citations and 170 written and verbal warnings. Officers responded to 198 calls for service and squad cars traveled a total of 9,420 miles.

Price also reported the new squad car will be ready for service by the middle of next week.

Spaghetti Fundraiser

for Fire Dept.

Chief Bill Arney announced the department and auxiliary are working together to host a fundraising spaghetti supper, at the Fire Department on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. The all-you-can-eat supper will be $5 per person, he said.

The Fire Department put in a total of 110 man hours in September, Arney told the council. That included responding to 17 calls, with a total of 29 hours and 10 minutes spent on the scenes.

The volunteer fire fighters put in 15 duty hours and 95 training hours. Fire Department vehicles traveled a total of 486 miles.

Building Commissioner Randall Lopez said September had been a “quiet month,” with only four new building permits issued, six inspections made and three violations ticketed.

Doug Wentz reported the street department will do two more major brush pick-ups, Oct. 15 and 29. “Brush pick-up will end at the end of the month, “ he warned.

Paving will begin on Oct. 18 on south North Boo Rd., Wentz added.

NIPSCO has staked the position of a new street light at the northwest corner of Rt. 20 and Saltcreek Rd., Wentz said. “We’re awaiting state permission,” he said.

In other business, the council unanimously approved a $100 per year longevity bonus for full-time employees. The bonus, beginning in 2008, would be $100 for each year worked and would begin after an employee has worked for one full year with the town.

Richard Bollinger, Jim McGee, Mike Perrine and Bernie Poparad all voted in favor of the bonus. Louis Bain, currently serving on active duty as a Marine Reserve in Iraq, was absent.

The surplus used Crown Victoria squad car was won in a sealed bid auction by Mark Quartuch for $526.

An e-mailed message from the county informed attorney Parkinson and clerk-treasurer Jordan that the Rainbow Mobile Home Park’s owner had recently paid outstanding taxes and will remain the owner.

Special meeting

Council member, meeting as the Redevelopment Commission, will hold a special meeting prior to next month’s regular council meeting to discuss the funding of sewer bonds. A low Assessed Valuation for 2006 meant less revenue than expected, Jordan reported, prompting a need for an additional appropriation into the TIF fund for bond repayment.

Council members agreed by consensus that they do not wish to pursue an excess levy appeal to deal with any shortfall the low AV may have caused.

“I think we should offset the shortfall within our budget and move on, hope for the best,” said Perrine.

Thanks Again

Council president Jim McGee once again thanked Richard Bolinger for his 20 years of service to the town, the town council and the parks as a liaison to the park board. Bollinger has two more meeting this year before his final term as a councilman is over.

Posted 10/11/2007