By PAULENE POPARAD

Porter Town Councilman Bill Sexton received a heart-felt standing ovation at the conclusion of his final meeting Tuesday after hearing warm words of praise from audience members and town officials.

Sexton has resigned and is moving to Merrillville. His wife, Zathoe, recently resigned her Porter Park Board seat as well. Bill Sexton has been a council member since 2004 and began his second term Jan. 1.

Fellow council member Micheal Genger presented Sexton with an engraved plaque containing a small clock on behalf of the town. He said Sexton and his wife have been good friends to Porter, and their service and involvement will be missed.

Regarding Sexton’s resignation, Genger said, “We know this is a very hard decision for you and we all wish you the best.” On a personal note Genger thanked Sexton for helping him in his first eight months on the council because of Sexton’s wealth of knowledge about the town and how it operates. Sexton previously served as Porter building commissioner and is current president of the Porter Redevelopment Commission.

Sexton read the plaque’s engraving aloud, his voice showing emotion. The inscription cited his exemplary leadership, loyalty, friendship and outstanding service to the town that long will be remembered.

Sexton said he appreciated working with the current and previous councils. “I’ll miss it, however, it’s on to bigger and better things. You have to do what your heart tells you to do.”

Most of his remarks were intended for citizens who Sexton said generally don’t understand how many hours council members spend on town business. “Sometimes they’re criticized for not making a certain decision. If you step into the shoes of the individuals who sit at this table, you’ll be surprised the time it takes to make these decisions.”

Sexton also said even though people have complained about some decisions he’s made, when he resigned and they had the opportunity to apply for his council seat, Republicans initially had a tough time finding someone even vaguely interested in taking Sexton’s place.

Todd Martin and Ken Timm since have filed for the District 1 seat and a GOP caucus is slated for 6 p.m. tonight at the Porter town hall for eligible precinct committeepersons to vote on a replacement to serve out Sexton’s remaining three-year term.

He continued Tuesday’s parting remarks by saying, “It’s easy to sit out there (in the audience) and not understand what’s going on and take pot-shots at council members. Think twice about being critical of the individuals at this table,” Sexton cautioned. “They do not take (their job) lightly. We need to appreciate council members more...they’re very involved. They do an excellent job.”

He also reminded council members they can’t make everyone happy and suggested they keep the citizens at heart and do what’s best for the town, even if unpopular at the time. “Thank you all. I’m going to miss it,” Sexton concluded.

During the meeting Porter Beach property owner Carl Dahlin commended Sexton for his service to the community. “I’m sorry to see him go.” Dahlin urged the council to continue to work with him on improvements at Porter Beach. “I’m 100 percent with the Town Board to do something with the beach area. Don’t give it away because once it’s gone, there’s no taking it back.”

Public Works superintendent Brenda Brueckheimer told Sexton, “Bill, it’s been a pleasure,” and Park Department superintendent Jim Miller noted the dedication of Bill and Zathoe Sexton to the parks. “Both Sextons have given the town a lot,” said Miller, prompting one of several rounds of applause.

In other business:

•A public hearing was conducted on the proposed 2009 town budget. No one commented.

•By a 5-0 vote on final reading the council adopted an ordinance banning trucks weighing 5 tons or more from Lincoln, Franklin, Beam, Indiana and Michigan streets in the downtown area. Originally a 2-ton limit was proposed but Councilman Jon Granat said that would include some personal pick-up trucks. The intent of the ban is to prevent large semis and garbage trucks from traveling through Porter to businesses in Chesterton, especially Able Disposal’s waste transfer station.

• Approved was the expenditure of $1,600 for repairs to the town hall roof, which no longer is under warranty; to its eyebrow windows; and to install a larger diverter channel above the doors to prevent run-off that freezes at the building entrances in winter.

•Dahlin asked the National Park Service to start enforcing liquor and animal laws on their land at Porter Beach, and to have better NPS supervision there to prevent drownings. “All they need is one man to stand there and say, ‘You can’t go into the water.’”

•Sexton commended the Porter Fire Department and Dive Team that responded to a recent drowning near Porter Beach. “You guys did a bang-up job. You should be applauded for that --- great work,” he told fire chief Lewis Craig.

•Town engineer Warren Thiede was authorized to solicit bids for an estimated $260,000 in road paving projects to be done yet this year. Bids will be opened Sept. 16. Portions of Marquette and Wood streets are included, as is Oak Hill Road. Undecided was where the money will come from to pay for the paving; some but not all will come from Porter’s state-financed Major Moves fund.

•Thiede reported the Porter Stormwater Management Board has approved Phase 1 of the town’s stormwater master plan.

•Brueckheimer asked residents to bag their grass clippings for pick-up or they can be brought to the rear of the Public Works complex at 550 Beam St. during business hours. Loose grass should not wash into manholes, she explained.

•A one-year contract was approved 5-0 with the Porter County Animal Shelter for animal control services at $4,371 or no increase over 2007. The town briefly had its own animal control officer but soon realized it was not feasible to continue.

Posted 8/27/2008