Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Schnadenberg eyes six big projects

Back To Front Page

 

By KEVIN NEVERS

Chesterton Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg is eyeing an ambitious 2019 paving schedule, half the cost of which he’s hopeful the state will pick up, in the form of a Community Crossings infrastructure grant.

As Schnadenberg reported at Monday night’s Town Council meeting, he, Town Engineer Mark O’Dell, and MS4 Operator Jennifer Gadzala are currently working their way through the exceedingly complicated Community Crossings grant application. “Every year they’re revamping the application and making it a little bit tougher,” he said.

How much tougher? If it’s not signed in blue ink, the state will automatically reject the application. Just for instance.

Schnadenberg specifically is seeking a 50/50 match grant for the following paving projects:

* South 11th Street from 1100N to Park Ave.

* West Porter Ave. from South Calumet Road to South Eighth Street.

* South Eighth Street from West Porter Ave. to Broadway.

* 15th Street from Woodlawn Ave. all the way south of Washington Ave.

* 100E from 1100N to 1050N.

Schnadenberg also hopes to secure a grant to replace curb on East Morgan Ave. from Roosevelt Street to just west of Wilson Street.

These projects will probably be pursued even if Schnadenberg’s grant application is rejected, thanks to a $1.8-million general obligation bond issued earlier this summer for roadwork and sidewalk repairs. But Schnadenberg noted that a Community Crossings grant will significantly reduce the town’s costs for those projects.

So far, Schnadenberg, O’Dell, and Gadzala are 2-0 when it comes to the Community Crossings grants. This year the 50/50 grant was applied to the repaving of South Calumet Road from Porter Ave. to the Chesterton Post Office; the repaving of Wabash Ave. from North Calumet Road to Waverly Road and then north on Waverly up to Woodlawn Ave.; and to the replacement of the bridge on East Porter Ave. over Sand Creek. In 2017 a Community Crossings grant was applied to the repaving of 1100N from South Fifth Street to Pearson Road.

New Fire Engine

In other business, members voted unanimously to authorize Fire Chief John Jarka to put a bid package together for a new fire engine, to replace Engine 512, a 2000 Pierce Saber which--until it lost its rear axle and threw a differential in July during driver training--had been the CFD’s main backup, in support of the primary engine, a 2015 Sutphen.

Jarka said that he’d investigated the acquisition of a demo model but learned that those available are too small for the amount of equipment the CFD carries to a scene.

The speccing process should actually be easy and quick, Jarka noted, since he’ll merely need to tinker a bit with the specs used in 2015 to acquire the Sutphen. As Member Emerson DeLaney, R-5th, observed, “We don’t have to re-write the bid package.”

New Dump Truck

On the subject of new vehicles, members also voted unanimously to authorize Schnadenberg to enter into a lease-purchase agreement for a demo dump truck, to replace a 17-year-old model.

Schnadenberg told the council that he’s just concluded a lease-purchase agreement on a different vehicle.

Total price, following a discount for the town’s membership in a quantity purchase program: $167,000.

The only real difference between the demo model and the dump trucks already in the Street Department’s fleet: the demo model is white, not orange. “I can live with that,” Schnadenberg said. The demo comes fully equipped with a plow package, he added.

Town Hall Roof Repair

Meanwhile, members voted unanimously to award the quote for repairing leaks in the town hall roof to Bluth Brothers Roofing Company Inc. of Hammond, after finding that Bluth Brothers was the lowest responsive and responsible quoter.

Bluth Brothers submitted a quote for $62,550, significantly higher than the only other quote submitted: $46,000 by International Roofing of Burns Harbor.

Associate Town Attorney Julie Paulson, however, told the council that the quote submitted by International Roofing “was deficient to the point of being non-responsive.”

Members indicated that, in this matter, their hands are tied by state law. “Indiana Code is very clear on requirements for quotes and bids,” said Member Jim Ton, R-1st.

“Why (International Roofing) didn’t follow through as requested, I don’t know,” DeLaney added.

The council could have rejected both quotes and started fresh. But the roof repairs must be made immediately, Ton said. “We’ve got a bad situation that needs to be addressed with expedient action.”

CPD Video Surveillance

Police Chief Dave Cincoski, for his part, reported that the CPD’s video surveillance system at the station sustained a “catastrophic failure” two weeks ago.

A contractor was able to jury-rig a temporary solution and a new system is scheduled to be installed next week, Cincoski said.

Banners Approved

By unanimous votes, the council approved the placement of the following temporary promotional banners on East Porter Ave. and at the intersection of North Calumet Road and Indian Boundary Road:

* Frontline Foundations, Hooked on Art, Sept. 10-24.

* Duneland Family YMCA, Dancing Like the Stars, Oct. 19-Nov. 3.

* St. Patrick Catholic School, Shamrock Alumni Ball, Feb. 8-23, 2019.

 

 

Posted 8/14/2018

 
 
 
 

 

 

Search This Site:

Custom Search