By PAULENE POPARAD

Porter Town Council members said Tuesday they plan to investigate all options, including selling their sanitary-sewer collection system and/or creating a Utility Advisory Committee. Draft language regarding the committee’s membership and responsibilities will be developed.

The council previously had discussed forming some type of Utility Service Board, but last night the idea of a less formal five- or seven-member utility committee was thrown out.

Council member Michele Bollinger is researching whether anyone would want to take over the Porter sewer system. “I’m working on it,” she said last night. Asked if the town of Chesterton, which processes Porter’s sewage, would be a possible buyer, “If they’re interested,” said Bollinger.

Commented Porter council president Bill Sexton, “I’m saying selling the system outright we definitely need to look at.”

Unloading it may be easier said than done.

An agreed order signed by Porter last year with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management mandates the town make upgrades, preliminarily estimated to cost $4 million to $10 million, to its sewer system; it includes 16 lift stations, 22.5 miles of gravity sewer, 480 manholes and 3.6 miles of sewer force main. Some of the early infrastructure is approximately 100 years old.

The town’s proposed plan for complying with the mandates is being reviewed by IDEM, which wants the improvements made sooner rather than later. A five-year timeline tentatively has been laid out.

Councilman Micheal Genger said the town needs to entertain every option before taking on debt to satisfy the agreed order and incurring additional operating costs for sewers. “We need to be very cautious how we approach it.”

At a joint meeting with several town officials March 4, the possibility was suggested of forming a Utility Board and combining its responsiblilities with the Porter Stormwater Management Board, which then could be disbanded. Last night Councilman Dave Babcock supported the idea. “They’ll work hand in hand enough it’d be good for both of them.”

But town attorney Patrick Lyp said his initial review raised some challenges to a Utility Board that would take care of everything. A Utility Committee wouldn’t have binding authority and would report to the Town Council, which would retain ultimate control, he added.

Unlike a Utility Board, an advisory committee would have no ability to issue bonds to help pay for sewer upgrades. Consultants have cautioned that doing away with the Stormwater Board would eliminate that vehicle for financing town projects as well.

Babcock said the town needs a hands-on board, and Public Works director Brenda Brueckheimer said it would be better to have a board that can make financial decisions on the spot.

Councilman Jon Granat asked if a Utility Committee would function like the town’s technical advisory committee or TAC, comprised of town department heads who review proposed development plans but have no real authority. Lyp said the analogy is a good one; Utility Committee members would work with department heads as to the needs of the sewer system, possible financing and coordination with IDEM.

Bollinger asked about having a Utility Committee down the road. According to Lyp, “That’s the beauty of having an advisory board, however you want to craft it.” When its job is complete and the committee is no longer needed, it could be disbanded.

A key problem with Porter’s sewer collection system is stormwater that is seeping into sanitary sewers, driving up the cost of treatment at Chesterton’s plant. Porter council members said even if a Utility Committee is formed and stormwater is addressed by it, the Porter Stormwater Management Board could be retained to supervise the town’s administration of the federally mandated MS4 stormwater protection program.

In a related matter, Brueckheimer submitted information for the council’s consideratioin regarding the purchase or lease of manhole metering equipment required by IDEM to gauge sewer flow. She said she’d like to make the purchase soon.

In other business Tuesday:

•The council authorized Sexton and Clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy to sign written commitments previously approved for the Tremont Place planned unit development where Chicago FM radio station WBEZ will erect a 595-foot transmission tower at the former Andershock’s Fruitland. WBEZ local attorney Greg Babcock said surveying and preliminary site work is taking place there at U.S. 20 and Tremont Road.

•The council authorized Pomeroy to spend more money to complete a recodification of town ordinances began in 2006. The compilation of all adopted ordinances last was done in 1991. Pomeroy said a draft, nearly 600-page codification was submitted for review and 15 ordinances adopted since that time need to be added. The total project should cost about $10,000.

•Pomeroy said although she doesn’t agree, state auditors have advised her that citizen members of town boards and commissions need to be treated as employees and have taxes taken out of their compensation, in most cases paid annually. Lyp will research the matter.

•Resident Sherrill Newman was granted permission for the Porter Sesquicentennial Committee to erect banners on light posts commemorating this year’s 150th town birthday.

•The council adopted 5-0 under suspension of the rules an ordinance stipulating that vehicle registration used for Porter Beach parking permits must list “Porter” as the place of residence. Doing so assures the town will receive its share of excise tax, said Sexton. He urged residents to have their driver’s licenses updated accordingly so the town doesn’t lose money, and Genger suggested the post office be contacted regarding Porter address changes.

•Also by three unanimous votes a travel policy was adopted with no discussion. Prior approval of travel plans is required by the council and detailed, valid receipts later must be supplied; allowances for meals and hotels must be at the reasonable charge for that area. Mileage will be paid at the federal rate.

•Sexton set a closed council executive session for 7 p.m. March 18 to discuss pending litigation.

•Police Chief James Spanier said Pomeroy’s office still is having problems with the changeover of 10 telephone lines at four departments to Comcast service. Verizon and Comcast apparently are in a turf war over two of the lines, he advised, but otherwise the new phone service is satisfactory.

•Park superintendent Jim Miller reminded the community of Saturday’s 10 a.m. children’s Easter egg hunt at Hawthorne Park. He also said a Park Board survey seeking public input to help draft a five-year plan is available at the town hall, at Hageman Library and will be uploaded soon on the town of Porter website. The surveys are to be returned by May 31.

•Sexton commended building commissioner Art Elwood for getting rid of several junk cars around town.

•Resident Bill Cantrell informed the council that the Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction District offers a safe way to dispose of prescription medications. He noted recent news accounts that medications were found in some drinking water sources tested. Pharma Card in Portage and Valparaiso and Fagen Pharmacy in South Haven accept expired medicines, said Cantrell, and July 12 expired/unwanted medication may be taken to a household hazardous waste collection day at Westchester Intermediate School in Chesterton.

Posted 3/12/2008