The asphalt bids
are in, for what promises to be an ambitious paving season in the Town of
Chesterton in 2019.
At its meeting
Monday night, the Town Council voted unanimously to take the two bids under
advisement.
The total bids,
after taking into account Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg’s specified
calculations for the amount of asphalt needed next year:
* $613,725, from
Rieth-Riley Construction Company of Gary.
* $659,700, from
Walsh & Kelly Construction of Griffith.
Those quotes come
on the heel not only of a $1.8-million general obligation bond issued this
summer for roadwork and sidewalk repairs but--as announced by Schnadenberg
earlier this month--a $444,617 50/50 Community Crossings state
infrastructure grant awarded to the town.
The grant will be
used to fund half the costs of six big-ticket projects:
* The re-pave of
South 11th Street from Park Ave. to 1100N.
* The re-pave of
South Eighth Street from West Porter Ave. to Broadway.
* The re-pave of
100E from 1100N to 1050N.
* The re-pave of
West Porter Ave. from South Calumet Road to South Eighth Street.
* The re-pave of
South 15th Street from Broadway to Washington Ave.
* And the
replacement of curbs along East Morgan Ave. from Coffee Creek Park east to
Roosevelt Street.
Continuance on
Proposed PUD
Amendment
In other business,
members voted unanimously--but grudgingly--to grant a continuance in the
matter of a proposed amendment to the Indian Oak Mall planned unit
development ordinance.
The
amendment--which comes to the council with an unfavorable recommendation
from the Advisory Plan Commission--would permit the erection of a
free-standing sign along Ind. 49 advertising some of the Indian Oak Mall
businesses.
Town Attorney Chuck
Lukmann advised members that the property owner’s attorney had sought the
continuance--a second one, in fact--but that the council was under no
obligation to grant it.
Members did so, but
Jim Ton, R-1st, made it clear that there will be no others. “This is it,” he
said.
Lukmann did note
that, should the attorney bring to the council some modification of the sign
which might make it more palatable, he would still need to return to the
Plan Commission to present the new proposal.
Duneland Schools
Permit Fee Waiver
Meanwhile, members
voted unanimously to waive the building permit fees for two projects being
pursued by the Duneland School Corporation. The first: the renovation of the
main office at Chesterton Middle School. The second: the replacement of the
garage doors at the bus barn.
The total value of
the fees: $1,500.
Additional
Appropriations
Members also voted
unanimously to hold a public hearing at their next meeting, Monday, Dec. 10,
on a series of year-end additional appropriations.
In all cases, the
funding is available for the given budget line item but has not yet been
formally appropriated, Clerk-Treasurer Stephanie Kuziela told the
Chesterton Tribune after the meeting.
The proposed
additional appropriations include the following:
* General Fund:
$234,163.49 for personnel; $7,800 for services; $750 for supplies.
* Motor Vehicle
Highway: $99,990.44 for personnel; $89,200 from Supplies to Services.
* Parks &
Recreation: $12,1006 for personnel.
* Local Roads &
Streets: $57,650 services.
* Cumulative
Capital Development: $158,000 for capital outlays (emergency vehicles).