By PAULENE POPARAD

Chesterton is on the brink of experiencing major development, said its Town Council president, and the medical industry should be embraced as a compatible neighbor.

“I look forward to working with any medical facilities that wish to plant roots in Chesterton (and) look forward to the incentives medical growth at Coffee Creek has to offer to all of our citizens.”

Added President Dave Cincoski, “I would say the medical field is welcome in Chesterton with open arms.”

Reading from a prepared statement Monday, he said, “As a town councilman I’ll bend to the wishes of our residents but hope the development of medical facilities and services will be viewed as a positive direction for the growth of our town.”

Cincoski lauded ongoing efforts by Coffee Creek Center to maintain and attract more medical-related development at the 640-acre site at State Road 49 and the Indiana Toll Road at the town’s southern limits.

Last week it was announced a regional, state-of-the-art kidney dialysis and nephrology center will be a major tenant in a 32,000 square-foot medical office complex now under construction at Coffee Creek. Another of its developers, James Gierczyk, earlier this month confirmed he is hoping to attract a hospital there.

After the meeting, Cincoski said his comments absolutely included putting out the welcome mat for a hospital.

Cincoski cited the Lakeshore Bone and Joint Institute as thriving at Coffee Creek where Lakeshore Surgicare, an ambulatory surgery center, also is being built. The location provides easy access for local residents, surrounding municipalities and greater Porter County and beyond, he said, as well as providing suitable job opportunities and an increased tax base.

“The medical industry is in the concept stage of attempting to entrench itself in our community,” said Cincoski, and that’s a good thing.

“Within a very short period of time the image of Chesterton is going to change.” That doesn’t mean the town will lose its time-honored image of uniqueness and ancestry, but the periphery of Chesterton is going to change and what it attracts to our town, added Cincoski, who also serves as a town police officer.

He prefaced his remarks saying annexations are occurring. A 39-acre one is proposed for the town’s west side, and a 67-acre one to the east was approved April 9 but could double in size in the future. Cincoski also said the town Advisory Plan Commission is considering major commercial development as well. Two malls in and near Coffee Creek totaling almost 800,000 square feet of retail space are up for review.

As for Cincoski’s remarks courting the medical community, councilman James Ton said, “I concur with that statement, full agreement.”

In other business, Cincoski shared his insights gained at an April 17 seminar regarding the hiring of a town manager. For months the council has been discussing doing so. Cincoski said he will distribute recruitment guidelines and a 12-week process for hiring.

The next step, he advised, is agreeing on an estimated manager’s salary and how the town is going to fund it; Cincoski said he was told the pool of qualified managers is dwindling so expect fewer applications.

During council comments member Mike Bannon recognized the contributions of the Duneland Resale Shop, an effort of area churches, for its donation of over $515,000 back to the community as well as giving free merchandise to local shelters. Bannon urged continued support of the all-volunteer resale shop, which is planning some construction.

For that reason any permit needed was unanimously waived, as were permits needed for projects undertaken as part of this year’s Rebuilding Together Duneland service project, formerly Christmas in April.

It was announced the council will meet in special session Thursday at 12 noon at Chesterton Middle School, where Ton is principal, to hear presentations by students in honors economics classes. Also, Cincoski asked to schedule a closed council executive session at 6:30 p.m. May 14 to discuss land acquisition.

Posted 4/24/2007