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By KEVIN NEVERS The Town of Chesterton’ s investment in summer interns--2009 Chesterton High School graduates who participated in this year’s Honor Economics study of municipal website design--is apparently paying off in spades.At the Town Council’ s meeting Monday night, two of those interns made presentations: Kevin Kokesh on a request for proposals from local and regional website designers; and Stephanie Kuziela--Town Manager Bernie Doyle’s part-time administrative assistant--on her efforts to promote the 2010 census.Kokesh told the council that five proposals were received and that he conducted a detailed study of the estimated cost of their services, including upfront and over time; a review of their portfolios; and a scoring of the proposals themselves, among other things. Kokesh’s conclusion: best overall proposal, SH/MindBend; second best, the Grossbauer Group. Members took no action on Kokesh’s recommendations but were impressed by his efforts. “A very thorough job,” said Member Jeff Trout, R-2nd. “I appreciate all your hard work.” “Can we convince you to change your major to public administration?” asked Member Dave Cincoski, R-3rd. “A very excellent job.” Kuziela, for her part, has spent her summer liaising with the Tri-Towns for the local promotion of the census and getting a specific census program into Duneland elementary schools. That program will require one volunteer each for 38 classrooms and $250 for materials, with the end goal being to persuade students to go home and talk to their parents about the importance of being counted. What is the importance of being counted? Cincoski wondered. For each person not counted, Kuziela said, a community stands to lose $4,000 in funds. Say no more. Kuziela also floated the idea of a wine and cheese party to be sponsored with contributions from local businesses, the funds raised to be used in census promotion. The council voted 4-0 to make funds available and to establish such a gift fund. Later in the meeting Cincoski repeated his praise of Kokesh and Kuziela. “We’re getting a bang for our buck,” he said. 2010 Stimulus Money In other business, Doyle told the council that he’s in the process of applying for the 2010 round of federal stimulus funding, with his eye on three projects: the Dickinson Road extension; the overhaul of 1050N; and a joint stormwater project with the Town of Porter. Two Design Contests Meanwhile, Clerk-Treasurer Gayle Polakowski reminded residents that there’s still plenty of time to vote for their favorite of five designs for signage to be installed along roads and bridges alerting folks to the nearby flow of a watershed or water body. The five finalists are currently on display in the foyer of the town hall at 726 Broadway. Polakowski also reminded residents of a municipal license plate design contest announced in June, for which the town has so far received only one entry. The winning design will be featured on the front of all municipal vehicles, while residents will have the opportunity to purchase plates for their own vehicles. Last Thoughts Member Jeff Trout, R-2nd, took a moment at the end of the meeting to urge everyone to familiarize himself with the federal health care reform bill now in Congress. “There’s a lot of misinformation on both sides of the issue,” said Trout, who added that the bill is available in readable form on line. President Emerson DeLaney, R-5th, on the other hand, spoke for a moment of a new Indiana probationary driver’s license law which took effect on July 1. That law, he said, restricts the number of passengers which a probationary driver may have in his vehicle; has restrictions on nighttime driving; and bans the use of telecommunications devices by drivers under the age of 18. Parents should get acquainted with the law, DeLaney said.
Posted 8/12/2009 |
