Chesterton Tribune

 

 

$2M Chesterton park bond closes today with 2.54 percent interest over 10 years

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By KEVIN NEVERS

The Chesterton Town Council played small ball at its meeting Monday night, dispatching a bit of year’s-end business over here, taking reports from department heads over there.

Of most interest perhaps: Associate Town Attorney Chuck Parkinson told the council that the $2-million park bond, approved in October, was scheduled to close today. The interest rate over the bond’s 10-year lifetime: an exceptionally low 2.54 percent.

Among the projects the bond will finance:

*At Dogwood Park: the installation of a splash pad, the modernization of the playground equipment, and the alignment of the east and west entrances.

*At Chesterton Park: the installation of a splash pad and of lights at the basketball and tennis courts and the addition of a playground workout area.

*At Coffee Creek Park: the construction of a shelter by the fishing pond.

*At Thomas Centennial Park: the installation of a screening wall on the north side.

New Fire Engine

In other business, Fire Chief John Jarka reported that he’s met with officials at Sutphen Corporation of Dublin, Ohio, which will be building the CFD’s new engine. Sutphen’s was the lowest responsive and responsible bid of the eight, at $462,362.

Jarka said that the pre-construction meeting went well. “It looks like they build a quality product.”

Jarka is expecting delivery of the engine in June or July. The CFD’s current go-to engine, a 2000 Pierce, will become the back-up engine; its current back-up, a 1992 Pierce, will be placed in reserve.

New Grapple Truck

Another vehicle which the town is awaiting delivery of--has been since April--is a new grapple truck, purchased from Truck City of Gary Inc. Cost: $129,482

As Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg told the council on Monday, vehicle manufacturers have had a tough time of it this year getting their product out. But Truck City should be delivering the grapple truck in the next week or two, he said.

Still on order: a new dump truck, also ordered in April from Truck City, at a cost of $156,184. It will probably be 45 days or so before the Street Department takes delivery of that vehicle, Schnadenberg said. “We’ll get it to plow snow pretty much at the end of the winter.”

Lease with Chamber

Meanwhile, members voted unanimously to renew its lease of the old New York Central passenger depot to the Duneland Chamber of Commerce.

That lease has a five-year lifetime with a monthly rental of $1,700. It also provides for two five-year renewal options. Should the Chamber exercise the first option, monthly rental will be bumped to $1,850; should it exercise the second, it will be bumped to $2,000.

The lease also authorizes the Chamber to remodel the interior of the building at its own expense.

Ton Returned to NIRPC

Members also voted unanimously to re-appoint Member Jim Ton, R-1st, as the town’s representative on the Executive Board of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission.

This year Ton served as Vice Chair of the Executive Board, where he’s been a vocal advocate of the town’s interests.

Special Meeting

on Dec. 21

Members also agreed by consensus to hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, for the purpose of interviewing applicants for open board seats and to discuss the 2016 CEDIT budget.

2016 Municipal Holiday Schedule

Finally, members voted unanimously to declare the following to be municipal holidays in the Town of Chesterton in 2016: New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

 

 

Posted 12/15/2015

 
 
 
 

 

 

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