By PAULENE POPARAD

Two weeks after suggesting it, Porter Town Council president Bill Sexton said designating Waverly Road the new downtown truck route isn’t as good an idea as originally thought because Waverly is too narrow and the road base is questionable.

Semi-trucks and other large vehicles currently are routed down Wagner Road from U.S. 20 east on Lincoln Street through the downtown. Sexton said concern arose after he saw a child almost get hit by a truck on Lincoln.

Since many trucks are bound for businesses in Porter but also in Chesterton including Able Disposal, said Sexton, council members agreed Tuesday that a letter will be drafted asking the businesses to consider that their customers use an alternate route that avoids Porter. The city of Portage will be asked to reroute its garbage trucks that Sexton said travel daily through Porter.

Also, Sexton said a volunteer is needed to do a traffic count of the number and types of trucks using Lincoln. Possibly no truck route through downtown Porter is the answer, he added.

If not Wagner, “Really there’s not too many choices,” said Councilman Micheal Genger.

Porter resident Gene Chemma suggested the council study the feasibility of extending Woodlawn Avenue west from Francis Street to Wagner Road if sufficient right-of-way exists or could be acquired for the turning radius needed for trucks. Sexton said that can be researched.

Chemma said as for using Waverly, the Interstate 94 overpass has a blind spot, Waverly Road at U.S. 20 is in bad shape, and during shift change Pat’s Liquors on that intersection’s southwest corner is congested.

Town engineer Warren Thiede said a concern is whether the I-94 bridge and a Waverly bridge over the Little Calumet River are structurally safe for increased semi traffic.

He also said documentation is unavailable to determine if the Waverly roadbed is built for truck loads; core samples would be needed. Despite road standards calling for 24 feet of pavement width, Thiede cited the narrowness of Waverly north of I-94 at 20 feet wide with no shoulders.

"When I looked and saw how narrow that was, it changed my mind whether Waverly was a good idea,” said Sexton. Nevertheless, he said semis and large dump trucks use Waverly now.

Sexton said he understands if Waverly were designated a truck route, it would have to be upgraded. Resident Jennifer Klug told the council, “This is something to approach with caution, if at all.”

Not at all, said residents Elsie Mayer and Patricia Nicholson. “I’m totally opposed,” said the latter because children live along Waverly. Mayer said joggers, mill workers, residents and Splash Down Dunes patrons all use Waverly. “We don’t need trucks going on that road.”

Beach request heard

The council asked town attorney Patrick Lyp to provide them with more information regarding a request from Ericka Brandstetter, whose family wants to connect two rental cottages on Lots 22 and 17 in Block 14 near Glacier Trail at Porter Beach with a deck/walkway that would span across an unimproved 14-foot-wide public alley.

Brandstetter was before the Porter Technical Advisory Committee June 17 where town department heads recommended the council be asked for a license to encroach in the alleyway. Additional zoning approval also may be needed, they said at the time.

Brandstetter said Tuesday a retaining wall near the cottages is rotting and the new structure with railings and steps will be safer, and public access would be retained although the alley isn’t frequently used. Lyp said a concern would be the town’s liability if someone would fall on the deck/walkway in the alley. “No matter what I do, there’s a risk here.”

Lyp said this appears to be a unique situation. Council consensus was that he prepare a draft license agreement containing hold-harmless language.

Brandstetter was not on the published agenda. After the meeting Lyp said, “A lot of things have to happen before (council members) decide anything.” He said he hasn’t determined whether Brandstetter must file a formal petition for alley encroachment or whether a public hearing should be held. He and building commissioner Art Elwood said so far they don’t believe additional zoning approvals would be needed.

Earlier this year in response to dissatisfaction over a town zoning decision granting variances for a Porter Beach garage, the town appointed a committee charged with drafting proposed additional overlay requirements for development there to provide the dunes area more protection. Lyp said schedules are being coordinated to set the first overlay committee meeting.

In a related matter, Elwood said he’s started the process of condemning two derelict homes in Porter Beach.

Insurance pact renewed

The Town Council voted 4-0 with Dave Babcock absent to renew its health-insurance contract with United Healthcare for 2008-09. Insurance consultant Steve Brady said instead of a 6.5 percent increase the company now proposes 3 percent and will expand reimbursement for preventive care saving the town about $2,500 a year.

Two weeks ago Councilman Jon Granat asked why, if the town spends about $300,000 annually for insurance, the renewal wasn’t being competitively bid. Brady said last night he sent proposals to more than 10 companies and five were returned. “We can shop, we can go on and on,” he said.

Council member Michele Bollinger said employees were polled and had the opportunity to raise any problems with United Healthcare coverage but reported none.

Also Tuesday, Clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy reported the Redevelopment Commission earlier in the evening approved the loan of $480,000 in commission funds for operating expenses pending receipt of the first 2008 property tax distribution, not slated until August or September. The loan has to be repaid by Dec. 31.

The council voted 4-0 adopting a resolution distributing the loan as $310,400 to the general fund; $131,000 to the Street Department; $11,600 to the Fire Department and $27,000 to the Park Department.

Pomeroy said state tax officials aren’t likely to approve the town’s 2008 budget until much later this year so “we have to slow down our spending. If they cut our budget, the town’s in trouble. Let’s not do anything unless it’s necessary.” The council urged department heads to comply.

On another matter, Pomeroy outlined potential costs if the town were to resume billing for sanitary-sewer usage and related municipal fees, such billing now contracted out to Indiana American Water Co.

The town’s software program alone would cost $16,700 and cardstock, printing and postage would have to be added.

The town has approximately 1,900 sewer/trash collection accounts and about 500 additional stormwater-fee billings for vacant parcels.

The council discussed but took no action on a new program to license businesses annually. The goal would be to know how many employees a business has, where potentially dangerous areas or materials might be, and a current keyholder who can be contacted in an emergency. Police and fire departments primarily would use the information.

Genger suggested and the council concurred to remove from the program businesses that are residential home occupations not having employees or outside customers. A tentative penalty for program non-compliance was set at $50 with each day a separate violation. Lyp also said he could seek an injunction to shut down a business in violation.

Police Chief James Spanier urged residents to be considerate of their neighbors and abide by the rules for setting off fireworks in the coming days.

He said town code permits fireworks on July 4 between 10 a.m. and 12 midnight. On other days between June 29 and July 9 fireworks may be set off between 5 p.m. and two hours after sunset.

Posted 6/25/2008