With illegal drugs gaining a stronger foothold in Porter County, the Porter Police Department is taking extra steps to do something about it.

At police chief James Spanier’s request the Porter Town Council voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve the $15,761 purchase of a police dog that will, among other duties, accompany officers on traffic stops to search for drugs.

The price reflects the dog itself and the intensive two years of training it has received at an Indiana kennel.

After five weeks of additional training with Porter’s yet-to-be-designated canine handler, the drug dog could be on the job by April or May pending delivery of a new patrol car, already slated for 2010 purchase, outfitted for a canine unit.

“This drug dog will help out a lot,” Spanier told the council. “Our area is getting hit hard by drugs.” Users looking for quick cash and items either to pawn or purchase drugs directly are responsible for a rash of area home and vehicle break-ins, said Spanier.

“We’re starting to get meth(amphetamine) and you know what heroin’s been like,” he added after the meeting.

Porter previously sponsored Brando the police dog until the animal was retired over 10 years ago. The Portage Police Department, the Porter County Sheriff and Indiana State Police currently have canine units, according to Spanier.

The $15,761 was encumbered from the 2009 Porter police budget. Spanier said the additional cost of paying officers while the canine handler is in training and other related program expenses will be funded from $24,000 Porter received this year as its share of drug forfeiture money siezed during a traffic stop.

“This allows us to do something we wouldn’t have been able to do without that,” he told the council.

The Porter Metropolitan Police Commission will have to adopt rules and regulations for the canine unit before it can begin operation.

When approving police encumbrances from the 2009 budget, the council also authorized the Public Works Department to reserve $30,000 and solicit bids for a large dump truck. Another $3,487 was encumbered to purchase laptops for the Sanitation Department and for employee training.

Public Works superintendent Brenda Brueckheimer again asked the public to refrain from flushing underwear, Depends and diapers down toilets; the garments snarl sewer equipment and last week town workers clocked overtime to repair multiple clogged pumps.

Early next year Brueckheimer said she plans to put on the town website what not to flush.

Spanier said very soon he anticipates the Police Department page on www.townofporter.com will link to a new crime report service that details the general location of burglaries, break-ins and thefts from vehicles occurring in town to alert neighbors. The Porter County sex offender registry also will be linked.

In other business Tuesday, the council’s last scheduled meeting of the year:

•Michele Bollinger and Jon Granat were re-elected council president and vice-president, respectively, on Councilman Micheal Genger’s motion commending Bollinger’s dedication. Genger said everyone’s done a tremendous job this year.

•Department heads were not named for 2010, and appointments to town boards and commissions won’t take place until Jan. 12.

•Brueckheimer thanked the council for its support. “We’ve made huge strides that couldn’t have happened without this team.” Fire chief Lewis Craig also thanked the council, and resident Jennifer Klug thanked town department heads for a job well done. Said Bollinger, “The whole council agrees.”

•Announced as winners of the 2009 Porter outdoor decorating contest were first place Bruce and Jean Daniels of Burwell Drive, $75, who also won last year; second place Kurt Ruhmann, $50, of David Boulevard; and third place Tim Kaurich, $25, of Howe Road. Bollinger encouraged more residents to enter next year.

•Clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy thanked Jean Biesboer and Janet Biesboer for decorating the town hall Christmas tree and donating the wreath.

•Pomeroy said this week the town received from Porter County $1,397,694 in 2008 property taxes payable in 2009 and the town Redevelopment Commission received $634,029. She said substantial tax money still is owed the town.

•The tax distribution isn’t enough to fund ongoing expenses and to repay by Dec. 31 Porter’s $1,502,800 in internal loans made to the general fund and other funds this past year. The Town Council voted unanimously to extend all loan repayment until June 30, 2010.

•The council also approved 59 total transfers within the general fund, fire, park, street and police departments to reconcile year-end appropriations. By separate ordinance the council created a fund for the purpose of placing grant money received.

Posted 12/23/2009