It will come as no surprise to folks who’ve been washboarding to work that the Chesterton Street Department has been getting complaints lately about “rough, bumpy roads.”

As Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg told the Town Council at its meeting Monday night, the winter is to blame.

“With the low temperatures, moisture under the road surface freezes and pushes the roads up,” Schnadenberg said. “It’ll subside a little with the spring thaw.”

Although numerous streets have received complaints, Schnadenberg noted, especially affected by the weather have been West Porter Ave. between 15th and 23rd streets and 11th Street south of West Porter Ave.

As it happens both of those roadways are slated for re-paving this year courtesy of the federal government. Last year the Town of Chesterton was awarded a total of $345,891 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to pave the following:

•West Porter Ave. between 15th and 23rd streets.

•11th Street between West Porter Ave. and 1100N.

•And Wabash Ave. from Fourth Street to Waverly Road.

In other business, members voted 5-0 to release $5,883 in CEDIT funds to the Chesterton Fire Department for the purchase of a new computer server and program upgrades.

Fire Chief Mike Orlich told the council that the CFD is currently sharing space on a single municipal server and really needs its own to be able to take full advantage of a recently acquired administrative software package.

Earlier this year the council voted 5-0 to earmark a total of $50,000 for municipal telecommunications and computer gear.

Members took under advisement, on the other hand, a parcel of quotes assembled by Police Chief George Nelson on the cost of acquiring and installing a new sound system in the town hall meeting room.

Members are contemplating a voice-activated recording system with improved amplifiers and speakers and wireless microphones.

Quotes range from around $3,700 to $7,700.

Meanwhile, members voted 5-0 to authorize department heads to go out for bid, when the specifications are completed, for the first phase of the 15th Street municipal building project. Phase I: the construction of two out-buildings, a salt storage facility for the Street Department and a cold storage facility for the storage of vehicles and equipment not in seasonal use.

In Phase II the old United Tractor facility will be demolished and a new building constructed, to become the new home of the town’s engineering, stormwater management, and economic development functions.

Chester Inc. of Valparaiso was awarded at $102,900 contract in November to blueprint the project, conduct inspections during construction, and provide regular written progress reports to the council.

The 28,7320-square foot United Tractor facility and the 2.95-acre site were purchased by the utility in April 2005 for $375,000.

In related business, members voted 5-0 to appoint Town Engineer Mark O’Dell and MS4 Operator Jennifer Gadzala to the common construction wage committee which will determine laborers wages for the project. O’Dell will represent the Town of Chesterton on that committee, Gadzala the property-tax payers.

Orlich told the council that he and Town Attorney Chuck Lukmann have finalized a contract with American Fire Apparatus to broker the sale of the old ladder truck.

The Chesterton Police Department has responded to 506 calls so far in February and to 1,202 in the year-to-date, Nelson reported.

　Posted 2/23/2010