The Porter Town Council has big plans for its future CEDIT money including street/fire vehicle purchases, sidewalk replacement, park improvements, hiring a grant writer and renovations to the town hall.

Although the $1.2 million proposal needs final council approval, four members with Todd Martin absent Monday reached tentative consensus. Once approved the plan can be amended.

CEDIT is the town's share of the Porter County economic development income tax. The town currently has $59,000 in its CEDIT fund but an outstanding internal $545,800 loan to the general fund will be repaid to CEDIT when Porter's 2009 property taxes are distributed in early 2010.

Additionally, Porter receives $33,413 in new CEDIT money each month or $400,956 in 2010. The plan covers 2010 through 2012.

The current plan is for a dual infusion of CEDIT spending next year with department purchases early in the year as well as programmed spending over the three-year period leaving about $250,000 annually to be used at the council's discretion for capital improvements, matching funds for grant awards or economic development.

Public Works superintendent Brenda Brueckheimer, who oversees the Street and Sewer Departments, said, "I don't have a spare vehicle to keep me rolling. It's fix or repair daily."

She said there's a critical need for two medium size dump trucks and one large dump; she was authorized to obtain formal price quotes. She also said the town street sweeper, an undersized parking-lot model purchased second-hand, needs to be replaced, too.

Buying one mid-dump truck in early 2010 is eyed and possibly the large dump under a lease/purchase. In the initial round of CEDIT spending the Fire Department also could get about $26,000 for repairs to its tanker and a vehicle for the dive team; the Police Department about $18,000 for a radar speed trailer, new handguns and other items; and the Park Department money for perhaps a truck with dump capability, a replacement storage building or a reconfiguration of parking areas at Hawthorne Park.

Park Board member Patty Raffin presented combined CEDIT requests of approximately $200,000 over three years. Last year the park received $85,000 in CEDIT funds. Clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy requested $15,000 over the next three years for office equipment including a laser printer.

In the early 2010 CEDIT projects Pomeroy has requested security glass be installed between the town hall lobby and the reception desk at her office. That could be incorporated with partitioning the town hall's second story, now used primarily for records storage, into offices with a conference room. The building has an elevator.

Also being considered is better exterior town hall lighting and possible sidewalk replacement; Brueckheimer said when the town hall was built in 2003 the sidewalks were accepted although non-compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The sidewalk on the west side also slopes toward the street.

Town director of Engineeering and Development Matt Keiser said a new, larger town hall vault could be built in vacated office space adjacent to the downstairs meeting room because the current vault is full.

Council president Michele Bollinger said how to proceed with the vault is fluid because she'd like to spend about $20,000 to implement digital document scanning/storage that would allow residents and employees to share more information faster and reduce the need for extensive document storage.

Councilman Jon Granat suggested a field trip to see how another town uses the scanning service.

An additional need, Bollinger said, is to have engineering and infrastructure drawings for all departments consolidated in a layered, computerized geographic information system (GIS).

Several long-range issues were discussed during the 2 1/2-hour meeting.

Fire chief Lewis Craig said in three or four years he'll need to replace the back-up fire engine, and at this time Porter's department relies on mutual aid for a high-rise fire because it has no ladder truck that would reach top floors of taller apartment buildings or the new Comfort Inn.

The town also has applied for a grant to build a new fire station; if that happens, Keiser said money will be needed to furnish it.

Councilman Michael Genger reminded Porter needs to devote significant money to upgrading its sewage lift stations and collection system. The town's under an agreed order with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management mandating upgrades take place over the next four years; a state loan and federal grants are being sought, and some work already has been done.

Many other road and sidewalk projects have been deferred because, like other government units, Porter had to preserve cash to fund operating expenses when Porter County failed to send out timely property tax bills.

Last night Bollinger said rather than fall even farther behind, and in anticipation of the town Redevelopment Commission not being able to make loans to the general fund as it has in the past, in early 2010 Porter will borrow money from the Indiana bond bank to use as needed.

Keiser said he will continue to investigate grant programs/alternative funding and pursue every opportunity. Bollinger said by spending about $25,000 a year on a case-by-case basis for a professional grant writer, the town could realize significantly higher returns.