Porter fire chief Lewis Craig was given the go-ahead Tuesday to buy a 2008 cargo truck for the department’s dive team, but not to exceed the $17,850 estimated automotive value.

Voting 3-0 with members Todd Martin and Micheal Genger absent, the Town Council rejected Craig’s request to pay the $20,500 asking price to guarantee the town gets the truck now.

Pending approval of the purchase by town attorney Patrick Lyp, who was absent, the Fire Department wouldn’t take delivery until likely February when CEDIT money funding the purchase will become available.

Craig said Lake Shore Ford offered to buy and hold the vehicle, which is being auctioned now with a starting bid of $17,500 or $20,500 outright purchase, conditioned upon the town providing a letter it would pay for and take possession of the cargo van early next year.

Council president Michele Bollinger asked if Craig were comfortable buying the van sight unseen. He described it as an ideal vehicle, similar to a UPS van, for storing and transporting dive-team equipment. On Monday, Craig said the van had to be tall enough for firefighters to stand up and slip into the heavy dive gear.

The cargo truck has 18,100 miles on it under a 36,000/three-year warranty. Craig said it would be an additional cost to paint the vehicle’s exterior red although firefighters would customize the interior.

Councilman Jon Granat said if the purchase doesn’t work out, Craig found the 2008 van in one day and others likely are available. Councilman Dave Babcock asked the chief to get a price quote for the painting; he reminded Craig the council also is giving him $6,000 from CEDIT to repair the department’s tanker.

In related Fire Department action, the council voted unanimously to authorize Clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy to pay the firefighters for their 2009 service.

The meeting opened with retired Laborers Union Local 5 member Robert Kuna, a Porter resident, asking why the town hired Hobart Paving, a non-union contractor, to do road patching now in progress.

Kuna said union contractors pay a living wage, provide health insurance and pensions, and he questioned why the paving project was not put out for bid or at least competitive price quotes sought.

Street Department council liaison Babcock, a retired member of Local 150 Operating Engineers, said the town can’t specify union contractors; union-only outfits were too busy and the patching job was too small to attract their interest, he added.

Babcock said the paving needed to get done now to patch holes before snowplowing began. Kuna said the town should have tried harder to find a smaller union contractor.

Public Works superintendent Brenda Brueckheimer later said it’s not yet known how much the paving will cost because Hobart Paving will be paid per patch completed.

Kuna also asked about a drainage problem along Dunes Forest Trail that he said contributes to flooding of the Triangle Trail lift station.

Brueckheimer said the two are not directly related. Granat, a member of the town Stormwater Management Board, said he would have the flooding problem discussed there, and Bollinger said the matter could be mentioned to the National Park Service, which has property in the area, as well.

Babcock said the Triangle lift station (the town has 16) is one of four needing upgrades under a mandate by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Sewer rates alone couldn’t be raised enough to finance the work, he noted, so the town is hoping to borrow money from a state revolving loan fund.

After a recent meeting with IDEM officials, said Babcock, “We’ve got to get back into this.” He said the town will take positive steps on the upgrades by year’s end.

By unanimous vote the council approved expenditures for five departments out of $545,800 in borrowed CEDIT funds to be repaid when Porter receives its property-tax distribution early next year. Amounts granted are generally not-to-exceed.

CEDIT is dedicated revenue cities and towns receive from the Porter County economic development income tax. CEDIT spending plans must be submitted to the county.

The Porter town hall would get a total $100,000 for renovations. Eyed is $60,000 to reconfigure storage space into offices and build a new vault; $30,000 to replace nonconforming sidewalks; $5,000 for painting; $3,000 for a logo above the council meeting table; and $1,000 each for exterior lighting and a glass security window in Pomeroy’s office.

The Street Department would receive $90,000 for a new dump truck; the Park Department $32,000 for a dump truck or a replacement storage building; the Fire Department $26,000 for tanker repairs and a dive-team van; and the Police Department $18,000 for a radar speed trailer, primary handguns, a shredder, in-car computers, digital cameras and a Taser.

By a second 3-0 vote the 2010 through 2012 CEDIT spending plan was approved; it can be amended as needed. Porter anticipates receiving $400,956 annually with $811,318 of the $1,202,868 due being devoted to unspecified economic development projects.

Over the three-year period the town hall would receive $15,000 of the total funds for office equipment; the Police Department $74,670; the Park Department $60,000; the Street/Sewer Departments under Public Works $180,000; and the Fire Department $61,880.

The biggest-ticket items are $34,000 in 2011 for a fire command truck and $20,000 the following year for equipment for a new fire station if built; and $20,000 in each of the three years for the Park Department for building and parking-lot improvements.

The Public Works Department in each of 2010, 2011 and 2012 would receive both $30,000 to pay for a large dump truck and $30,000 for town-wide sidewalk replacement.

In other business:

•The town hall was closed today in observance of Veterans Day; Granat said veterans should be honored.

•Brueckheimer reminded residents Able Disposal takes small branches 4 feet in length or less bundled at the curb or placed in the trash receptacle.

•She also said two town leaf vacuums are on duty and asked residents to be patient if pick-up is delayed. She recommended leaves should be left in the easement between the sidewalk and street away from storm drains.

•Keiser reminded that the Plan Commission will conduct a public hearing on the proposed Porter Beach overlay zoning Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. No Board of Zoning Appeals meeting will precede it due to lack of BZA business.

•Applications are due Nov. 30 for residents interested in serving on town boards and commissions; political affiliation if any should be declared, and incumbents seeking reappointment also should file.

•Bollinger said the Census Bureau is looking to hire area residents at $10.50 per hour for two to four months. Those interested may call 866-861-2010 to schedule a test soon.

Posted 11/11/2009