Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Freight hauler eyes Porter US 20 site; beach rentals, food approved for 2015

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By PAULENE POPARAD

The Porter Town Council has initiated a financial analysis leading to a possible annexation of land east of Tremont Road to facilitate the relocation of a trucking company there from LaPorte County.

A contract not to exceed $5,000 was approved Tuesday with Umbaugh & Associates to perform the analysis.

During and after the meeting council president Greg Stinson said the freight hauler, which he wasn’t in a position to identify yet, wants to expand operations and finds the just over 10-acre parcel owned by Lake Erie Land south of U.S. 20 a desirable location. No zoning approvals are anticipated to be needed.

The majority of the parcel lies within the town’s TIF district although the southeast corner of the land is not within town limits. “For simplicity sake, for TIF revenues, it doesn’t make sense this is outside town limits,” explained Stinson.

Property taxes derived from new development in a TIF area are dedicated to the RDC’s exclusive use.

He said the trucking company’s entrance off U.S. 20 likely would be a good distance east of Tremont Road and not have direct access to it.

During public comment Tuesday an area resident asked if the annexation would affect property north of Discovery Charter School. He was told no.

Porter Beach rentals

The council voted 4-0 with member Elka Nelson absent to grant Sandy Peaks Surf Shop and Rentals a 2015 peddler’s permit to operate an enclosed roadside trailer at Porter Beach.

Martin Gonzalez said he and co-owner Scott Cornelison would rent kayaks, boogie boards, lounge chairs, shirts, towels, beach umbrellas and prepackaged food and beverages so beachgoers don’t have to bring them there, especially vacationers.

Gonzalez said similar beachfront communities offer the amenity where it’s well received and he’s working with the National Park Service, which also owns property at Porter Beach.

Stinson told Gonzalez, “I thought it was a fantastic idea. Every beach community has these things available and we don’t. Hopefully this will work and I wish you luck with it.” Council member Jeannine Virtue said the rentals sound like a great idea.

Park Wifi coming?

Virtue reported Porter, Chesterton and Burns Harbor may benefit from a $35,000 Frontier Communications technology grant to bring Wifi to Hawthorne, Thomas and Lakeland parks in their respective communities.

Facilitating the application is the Duneland Economic Development Corporation, of which Virtue is a member. The Porter council by consensus agreed to write a letter in support of the application.

Virtue said there would be a required $15,000 match but alternate ways to fund it are being investigated other than asking the participating towns to do so.

The America’s Best Communities grant requires applications be submitted by a community applicant team led by a local community organization. Municipalities must have a population of not less than 9,500 but fewer than 80,000 (Chesterton), and municipalities with fewer than 9,500 residents can partner with an adjacent qualifying community.

Public sought for boards

Applications are being taken to fill openings on five Porter boards/commissions beginning in 2015. Letters of intent indicating which board(s) the person seeks should be submitted to the town hall by Dec. 15.

Available are a seat on the Board of Zoning Appeals, no political affiliation required; one non-Democratic member on the Plan Commission; and one member for the Stormwater Management Board, no affiliation required. Two members are sought for the Metropolitan Police Commission and five members for the town Redevelopment Commission.

Also Tuesday, clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy thanked Jeanine Biesboer and Janice Clark for decorating the town hall Christmas tree, and Sherrill Newman for decorating the large stone vases in front of the town hall with a holiday theme.

Park director Brian Bugajski reminded the public that the rental fee for the Hawthorne Park community center is half price during January, February, March and November of each year.

Development director Mike Barry said with the final payment approved Tuesday out of the sewer fund, the Triangle lift station generator upgrade saved approximately $35,000. Public Works supervisor Brenda Brueckheimer said the rebuilt generator and upgraded lift station had start-up and everything worked perfectly.

By unanimous vote the council approved on final reading a 2015 salary ordinance reflecting no pay increases for employees.

 

Posted 11/26/2014

 
 

 

 

 

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