By MARGARET L. WILLIS

The theoretical long-term economic benefits of an additional South Shore line don’t outweigh the immediate additional tax burden on local residents in the minds of at least two Burns Harbor town council members.

A request for a resolution in support of the new South Shore commuter line to Valparaiso and Lowell from Vince Galbiati, of the Northwest Indiana Forum, was voted down last Wednesday by a 2-1 vote by the Burns Harbor town council.

Mike Perrine advocated for the expansion, which would entail a new tax on Lake and Porter County residents. “It would reduce congestion at the train here,” he said, “and I agree there’d be a long term economic benefit.”

Jim McGee said he does not like to vote to raise taxes.

Resident Jim Constantine told the council “I, for one, would not appreciate our taxes being increased and our town seeing no benefit.”

McGee passed the gavel to Bernie Poparad to make a motion against the resolution of support for the new South Shore line. Poparad seconded the motion and then voted Yes. The vote was then Perrine No, McGee and Poparad Yes. Richard Bolinger was absent as was Louis Bain, who is currently deployed in Iraq with the Marine Reserves.

In other business, the council took no immediate action on a request by Porter County Convention, Recreation, Visitors Commission member Judy Chaplin for the council take a position against a merger of the Lake, Porter and LaPorte County tourism bureaus. Chaplin is the tri-town appointee.

Resident Clark Hamilton introduced himself and said he is interested in serving on a board, such as the park board.

He holds a Masters degree in public management and environmental studies. “I feel I could apply my skills to the park board. My knowledge could be beneficial to the town.”

Hamilton was encouraged to submit a letter with his request to the town’s clerk-treasurer, Jane Jordan. Current Park Board member Wally Macchiarella has announced his resignation from that board.

Anyone interested in serving on a town board or commission should submit a letter outlining their qualifications, and where they hope to serve, to the clerk-treasurer’s office in the town hall.

The new council will be sworn in on January 1, 2008, at 11 a.m.

In other business, the council agreed to allow Jordan to complete the necessary paperwork to allow town vehicles to be fueled at VanManen Petroleum, in Portage. The VanManen fuel depot is about three miles closer round-trip, VanManen representative Mike Vandenburg said.

This will be in addition to the town’s use of Pinkerton Oil’s fueling depot and occasional use of retail fuel stations in town.

Doug Wentz, street commissioner, extended his thanks to Mike Sutton, who through ShareFest helped paint all the children’s bus shelters in town.

Local residents pitched in as well. “Everyone had a great time,” Wentz said.

Redevelopment Commission

In an earlier meeting, the council members, meeting as the Redevelopment Commission, reduced the boundaries of the Tax Increment Finance district.

Three business parcels were removed; Kenwall Steel at 1126 N St. Rd. 149, Praxair at 1214 Boo Rd. and DLZ Corp. at 316 Tech Dr.

The decreasing Assessed Valuation of the parcels meant declining revenues for the TIF fund, which Burns Harbor currently uses to pay the debt service on the bonds for the sewer line construction and improvements to the sewage treatment plant.

The tax revenue from those parcels will now go into the town’s General Fund.

The TIF district can always be amended again in the future if needed, town attorney Chuck Parkinson said.

Posted 11/20/2007