Burns Harbor resident Gayle Van Loon told the Town Council it’s time to discuss redistricting town wards. “It’s something that really needs to be thought about.”

Van Loon said she’s getting angrier and disgruntled that typically only three of five council members show up for public meetings. Wednesday night, Louis Bain and Mike Perrine were absent.

The town initially was set up with five wards but in the 1990s it was redistricted to three wards with two additional at-large council members elected.

Van Loon said under that scenario three council members could be elected from one subdivision. If the town doesn’t redistrict it could be run by one particular part of town and that needs to be addressed, she added.

Council member Toni Biancardi said she didn’t believe redistricting could take effect in an election year. Clerk-treasurer Jane Jordan said it likely could be done but wouldn’t take effect until Jan. 1 of the following year.

Town attorney Bob Welsh was absent due to illness.

Former council member Ray Poparad also supported redistricting, especially in light of the new residential development on the west and south sides of town. He said for the last redistricting, he as Democratic precinct committeeman and Warren Boo as Republican committeeman drove the town counting houses.

Biancardi said 507 invitations were sent for the town picnic. Jordan said in 2011 the numbers from this year’s federal census will be released. Biancardi said the town population was 766 in 2000 and is expected to far exceed 1,000 persons when the new census is certified.

Van Loon asked that redistricting be placed on a future council agenda and be given serious consideration.

Under public comment Wednesday, Poparad asked why the Town Council is considering refinancing the outstanding $3.5 million in sewer bonds. Originally sold in 2001, they will be paid off in 2016. In 2005 they were refinanced to save $600,000.

A consultant to the Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission has advised the town could sell $4.9 million in new bonds, pay off the current issue and have $1.4 million left to do projects while still being able to make the new bond payments annually.

Biancardi said so far it’s been all conversation with no decisions made about refinancing.

The RDC also had been discussing whether to create a new tax-increment financing or TIF district taking in the entire ArcelorMittal steel mill. Former Town Council member Myrtle Zehner advised against placing the whole town in a TIF district because it will drive up property taxes.

Again, Biancardi said so far the TIF discussion has been exploratory addressing what are the town’s options and possibilities. Duneland School Corp. board member John Marshall, who sits on the town RDC as a non-voting member, has expressed reservations over creating a Mittal TIF.

The RDC meets Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the town hall with a TIF status report on the agenda. Also listed is a report on the Standard Plaza site, a capital-improvement list status report, and an update on the town 2020 Committee.

The Town Council will meet Thursday next week at 5 p.m. to discuss employee compensation policies and the 2011 budget.

Posted 8/13/2010