By PAULENE POPARAD

Calling it a dire situation, Porter Public Works superintendent Brenda Brueckheimer told the Town Council on Tuesday that the price of road salt has jumped by $62.94 per ton since last winter or an estimated $80,000 more this season.

“It seems like long-time customers in smaller towns are getting punished. To me it seems like price gouging,” said Brueckheimer.

What cost Porter $40.69 per ton last winter now will cost $103.63 per ton. Brueckheimer said she only has $30,000 budgeted for road salt. Although she wanted a commitment of 1,000 tons from eight-year supplier Morton Salt, Brueckheimer said Morton only would commit to supplying 800 tons and beyond that Porter will have to pay the going rate at that time.

For residents it creates a safety issue, explained Brueckheimer, because side streets won’t be salted except at intersections. She urged motorists to proceed with caution in ice and snow. Long-range forecasts call for bad weather this winter, especially in December and January, Brueckheimer added.

Morton was the only vendor expressing an interest in the town although Brueckheimer said next year she hopes to find another salt supplier. Chesterton received similar news Monday regarding its Morton quote of $103.63 per ton reflecting an increase over 2007-08 prices of 151 percent.

Brueckheimer said she didn’t think it was fair that the Indiana Department of Transportation received a lower price quote from Morton, but Porter town engineer Warren Thiede said that’s because of the huge volume INDOT buys.

The Public Works Department won’t be picking up brush and leaves Sept. 15-19 and only will answer sewer and emergency calls as employees concentrate on readying equipment and vehicles, it was announced.

Brueckheimer told the council she wants to spend about $9,000 to equip an existing Public Works truck with a salt spreader and plow. Porter Police Chief James Spanier has offered to donate a surplus police truck to the Street Department for additional plowing following last night’s 5-0 council vote allowing him to buy a Dodge Durango with police package using Porter CEDIT income-tax revenue not to exceed $27,562.

Spanier thanked Clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy for finding the CEDIT money, and for the council authorizing him to hire more part-time police radio dispatchers to avoid paying overtime.

Vac-truck purchase?

The council took no action on Brueckheimer’s recommendation that Porter purchase a vacuum truck with the capability to clear storm drains, jet culverts and vacuum water from lift stations. The price for a newer used model could exceed $250,000 but Brueckheimer said in 2007-08 she’s spent $76,000 renting a vac-truck in sewer emergencies.

That money could be used to make an annual payment on Porter’s own truck under a lease/purchase contract, she emphasized; needed sewer/stormwater maintenance also could be performed more efficiently using the vehicle.

Acknowledged Bruckheimer, “It’s a chunk of change but at what we’re (paying to rent), we would pay for the truck. This is a one-stop shop. It’s the Cadillac but it’s what we need.”

As an example, she described how following a 5.71-inch rainfall Thursday and a 2.5-inch rainfall Monday the Porter Avenue sewage lift station overflowed 12,263 gallons and the Triangle Trail station an undetermined amount because two rental vac-trucks called to the scenes both broke before a third arrived.

The previous Public Works superintendent also urged the Town Council to purchase a vac-truck for Porter. Council member Jon Granat asked Brueckheimer to determine what the anticipated maintenance costs would be for a vac-truck.

Dept. heads report

Porter fire chief Lewis Craig said the new fire engine could be delivered by late this week or next if all goes well.

Brueckheimer said the town is having a resident remove a shed on Duneland Drive at Porter Beach and a drywell will be installed to mitigate a stormwater problem in the area.

Also Tuesday, Warren Thiede said a traffic study performed at the intersection of Franklin and Hageman streets near Hawthorne Park showed no four-way stop sign is warranted. When the planned Orchard Pedestrian Way hike/bike trail is built next year new signage will be placed there; speed-limit and children-at-play signs have been erected.

The engineer said the town zoning map has been updated and a copy is available at the town hall.

Pomeroy announced that residents in Porter Cove and Porter Beach only will have changes in the day of their recycling pick-up. This month it will be Sept. 15 and 29 and thereafter be the second and fourth Monday of each month for the balance of 2008.

Councilman Dave Babcock said Porter needs to begin the process to solicit bids for 2009 garbage/recycling collection. Brueckheimer was asked to help draft specifications including alternates.

Council member Michele Bollinger was asked to investigate the upcoming renewal of the town’s property insurance.

Posted 9/10/2008