Friday, September 29, 2017
Sunday, September 24, 2017
09242017 - News Article - MARC CHASE: Snyder should get used to turned backs
MARC CHASE: Snyder should get used to turned backs
NWI Times
September 24, 2017
http://www.nwitimes.com/opinion/columnists/marc-chase/marc-chase-snyder-should-get-used-to-turned-backs/article_f74ebdc3-578d-5934-95be-11952e61c3a4.html
Portage Mayor James Snyder seems to believe some leaders in his county aren't taking his plans — or even his stature as mayor — seriously.
He undoubtedly knows why but has yet to face the truth of the matter.
Three letters — FBI — sum it all up.
Few Region political leaders will say this outright, but the reason is clear:
Snyder is ensnared in the web of a felony bribery indictment spun by federal prosecutors, FBI agents and perhaps Snyder's own behavior — a jury must decide that last point — and is unlikely to be taken seriously by anyone.
Conventional wisdom dictates that folks don't forge alliances with those under the shadow of a federal criminal indictment. By now, most of us know Snyder faces felony charges in Hammond federal court for allegedly taking bribes to arrange for favorable towing contracts.
Indeed, he's presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Time and again, in the political corruption vortex that is Northwest Indiana, we've all seen how such federal indictments have ended.
Region federal prosecutors have a perfect record of conviction in the government corruption sphere, with more than 70 public officials or politically connected vendors being convicted of felonies against taxpayers since the 1980s.
But Snyder still seems to question why some folks won’t embrace his proposals.
In a public statement that ran as a guest commentary Friday in The Times, Snyder decried Porter County commissioners for turning their backs on his city's proposal to build a new county government annex building in downtown Portage.
He pointed to a study he says bolsters his city's position that a brand new downtown facility would be cheaper than renovating the county's existing Portage annex on Willowcreek Road south of U.S. 6 and would spur economic development.
"Instead of reading and debating the study, commissioners chose to call it names, threaten its author, refer to my federal indictment and disparage all Portage elected leadership," Snyder wrote.
The problem is the blame-game here can stop with Snyder.
Sure, commissioners have their own plan — a sensible one from what I can tell. They want to renovate the existing annex building, which has a sound, usable structure but needs to be modernized, including expanded courtroom space.
Good government dictates maintenance of viable buildings already within the holdings of a government unit. Commissioners have conducted their own study and dispute that a new building could be constructed, with all features they desire or need, more cheaply than a renovation of the existing structure.
The commissioners also have something else going for them.
Credibility.
None of the three commissioners — Jeff Good, Laura Blaney and Jim Biggs — are under federal indictment.
Snyder is.
So even if his study's numbers are correct, no legitimate government leaders are going to want to work with him or forge allegiances.
The smart ones won't want to be seen with him or associate with him, even if there's merit to the policies or plans he seeks.
Right or wrong, this is the reality Snyder refuses to face.
It's why several of my past columns and Times editorials have implored him to resign rather than dragging his city through the embarrassment and uncertainty of a mayoral felony indictment.
Snyder has made a conscious decision to remain in office pending trial, and that's his right.
But then he shouldn't act astonished when seeking dialogue with other government leaders who show him nothing but their backs.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
09212017 - News Article - Commissioners explain and defend capital upgrade plan
Commissioners explain and defend capital upgrade plan
Chesterton Tribune
Sep 21, 2017
http://www.chestertontribune.com/Porter%20County/commissioners_explain_and_defend.htm
Guest Commentary By Jeff Good, Laura Blaney and Jim Biggs, Porter County Commissioners
In July, the Porter County Board of Commissioners proposed a Building For The Future Capital Upgrade Plan which was developed to address long deferred maintenance and future space needs for county buildings and infrastructure.
Our priorities were to address needs and not “wants”, anticipate future space needs, and to do so in a cost-effective way with NO tax increases. We spent many months evaluating our facilities and examining options, choosing six projects that met those priorities.
One of those projects, the North County Complex in Portage, has been the topic of recent controversy. Nearly 40 years ago, the county purchased 13 acres of land on Willowcreek Road, just south of Highway 6, and built the current structure. County officials understood then, as we do now, that the location of this building is tantamount given the facility's expected function. It is a location that is easily accessible to all Porter County residents, more so for Portage, and will become more convenient with the potential of the Willowcreek extension.
Over the last several months, we examined every consideration, studied every option (including downtown Portage), and evaluated potential costs before coming to the conclusion that improving and adding on to the existing facility was the most rational and cost-effective decision. Our predecessors had the foresight to include enough land to allow for expansion based on future needs, which is exactly what we have proposed.
After our plan was developed, presented and ready for final approval, Portage city officials presented us a Cost/Benefit Analysis proposing a partnership to build a complex on Central Avenue in downtown Portage.
We’ve examined their analysis, individually met on at least two separate occasions with Portage city officials, and have had lengthy telephone discussions about it with Mayor (James) Snyder and City Council members (Mark) Oprisko and (Sue) Lynch.
The analysis was deficient in the cost assumptions. Building an entirely new facility from ground up would be much more expensive than estimated in the analysis. It does not account for the higher construction costs of a multi-story building as compared to a single story. It fails to account for the additional costs of building courtrooms versus standard office space, or federal regulations which require specific and expensive security protocols for new judiciary buildings. In twenty years, if we need additional space, there would be nowhere to grow.
The Central Avenue location does not consider access needs for ALL county residents. Almost every resident in Porter County can easily access the current location from Highway 6. The downtown location would require most residents to travel farther in congested traffic. This is exactly why the current North County Complex was originally built on Willowcreek and not in downtown Portage.
We have made every effort to explain our reasoning with Portage officials who are willing to listen. As County Commissioners, it is our responsibility to represent ALL county residents. We continue to believe that our current plan is the most responsible and cost-effective choice for county taxpayers.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
09192017 - News Article - UPDATE: Portage mayor challenges county's version of North County Complex proposal ahead of next week's vote
UPDATE: Portage mayor challenges county's version of North County Complex proposal ahead of next week's vote
NWI Times
Sep 19, 2017
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/update-portage-mayor-challenges-county-s-version-of-north-county/article_5c9fcc4e-e90b-5010-b13f-4b96b8479baa.html
VALPARAISO — The Porter County Board of Commissioners made another attempt Tuesday to calm the waters ahead of next week's final vote on their proposal to borrow $30 million for various capital improvement projects.
The commissioners also announced a last-minute change in the proposal that ditches the purchase of the former jail building in downtown Valparaiso in favor of adding on to the county administration center in the area that is now the courtyard.
The turbulence around the proposal continues to come from the plan to direct $10 million of the loan to a major renovation of the north county complex on Willowcreek Road, just south of U.S. 6 in Portage.
Portage officials would prefer to see a new city/county building constructed along Central Avenue in the city's downtown area. They claim a cost/benefit analysis done by the city shows the downtown project would be a good financial move for both the city and county.
"The analysis was deficient in the cost assumptions," according to a prepared statement from the commissioners. "Building an entirely new facility from ground up would be much more expensive than estimated in the analysis."
The city's analysis does not account for higher construction costs of a multistory building with courtrooms and security protocols, according to the statement. There is also no room for future growth, and the current location allows for easier access than downtown, the commissioners said.
"The Central Avenue location does not consider access needs for all county residents," the commissioners said.
Portage Mayor James Snyder said the city "has commissioned a study that takes all of the commissioners' concerns into account."
The county has given city officials no facts to back up their statements and has not met with Portage officials to discuss the city's study, he said.
"North county residents expect their elected leadership to collaborate, sit down and thoroughly vet such large investments," Snyder said.
The commissioners said in their earlier statement, "We've examined their analysis, individually met on at least two separate occasions with Portage city officials, and have had lengthy telephone discussions about it with Mayor Snyder and City Council members (Mark) Oprisko and (Sue) Lynch."
Porter County Commissioner Jeff Good, R-Center, also announced Tuesday the owner of the former jail building at Franklin and Monroe streets in Valparaiso was unwilling to accept the $2.5 million purchase offer made by the county. The offer was the midway point between two appraisals done, and the county is not allowed to increase the amount, he said.
The commissioners have switched gears and now hope to create the additional office space needed by adding on to the county administration center in Valparaiso in the area now serving as the courtyard, Good said. The project, which can be completed for the same $6 million as the jail purchase, would also include the addition of a new level on the attached parking garage, he said.
Good said the County Council is scheduled to take a final vote on the loan during its meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Friday, September 8, 2017
09082017 - News Article - 'A tremendous obligation': Being Lake County sheriff no easy task for Buncich successor
'A tremendous obligation': Being Lake County sheriff no easy task for Buncich successor
Post-Tribune
September 08, 2017
chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-lake-county-sheriff-duties-st-0910-20170908-story.html
While the sheriff is billed as the top law enforcement position in the county, the legally obligated duties that come with the job tend to be more overreaching and administrative than rough-and-tumble police work.
Whoever is selected as the next Lake County sheriff Sept. 16 will be tasked with these duties. A handful of people have announced they wanted the job after former Lake County Sheriff John Buncich was found guilty on all counts at his federal public corruption trial last month. With his conviction, Buncich forfeited his office, according to state law. He's set to be sentenced Dec. 6.
While former Lake County Chief of Police Dennis Matthew Eaton took over as sheriff in the meantime, the county's Democratic precinct committeemen will choose a new sheriff to serve until Buncich's term ends Jan. 1, 2019, at a Sept. 16 caucus.
The person selected will face "a tremendous obligation" with the responsibilities of the job, Councilman Eldon Strong, R-Crown Point, said.
"Once you take that position of sheriff, now you're overseeing the law enforcement duties for the county," Strong said. "You have to maintain the jail, in our case. And these are all very, very expensive obligations, and you have to maintain them."
Porter County Sheriff David Reynolds, now in his third term, thinks "everyone has a different style or a different approach" to the job.
"I've learned that you're as effective as the people that you have around you," Reynolds said.
Even with a good team, "the buck stops with the sheriff," Strong said, and a state statute outlines what a sheriff must fulfill.
According to a statute in Indiana code, the sheriff must "suppress breaches of the peace," "pursue and jail felons" and "take care of the county jail and the prisoners there."
As of Thursday, the Lake County Jail had 816 inmates, according to Mark Back, sheriff's department spokesman. Earlier this year, Buncich estimated that 2,100 to 2,300 meals a day are served at the jail.
The sheriff has to keep records of everyone there. A sheriff has to file a weekly report of each person held, a biannual report on the daily cost of housing inmates and an annual report on the jail's condition and recommended improvements, according to the statute.
Buncich was tasked with making changes to the jail after it came under U.S. Department of Justice oversight. In June, Buncich said that while much had been accomplished, the jail remains under the DOJ's watch as mental health care improvements continue.
In his term, Buncich met with the Lake County Council as they approved medical contracts for the jail and paid vendors to keep the inmates fed.
Strong said it's important for any incoming sheriff to have good communication with the council and other county officials and a "willingness to work with us."
The council began reviewing the 2018 budget Wednesday, as Eaton appeared before the council to address the needs of the sheriff's department. It's "a huge responsibility" for the sheriff, Strong said, as the sheriff's department gets a large chunk of the budget.
"He's the guy that comes to us and tells us what he needs. Not the police chief. Not the detective chief. Not the warden," Strong said.
Under that budget, the sheriff has myriad other tasks to address, including overseeing the Lake County Sheriff's Animal Control and Adoption Center. Since a May raid, Buncich worked with the center to house 68 dogs, three goats and a miniature horse from an alleged illegal puppy mill.
The sheriff's department said those running the jail and animal center would not comment on what they hope for from a new sheriff to help their departments "at risk of the perception of bias towards one candidate over another," according to Back.
The sheriff also provides security of the county's courts, Reynolds said. In Lake County, that includes courts in Crown Point, Hammond, Gary and East Chicago.
In the department, the sheriff oversees 157 merit police officers and 517 total employees, as of Friday, Back said. An orientation is scheduled this month to hire more officers who will work under the sheriff.
Together, the state's sheriffs maintain the Indiana sex and violent offender registry website "to inform the general public about the identity, location and appearance of every sex or violent offender," updating it daily, according to the statute. Nearly 600 people were registered in Lake County on the site Friday.
The statute also states that the sheriff supervises and inspects "all pawnbrokers, vendors, junkshop keepers, cartment, expressmen, dealers in secondhand merchandise, intelligence offices and auctions" in the county.
And "once you become sheriff, you become a political figure," Strong said. Buncich served as the chairman of the Lake County Democratic Committee before Jim Wieser took over the role earlier this year.
The next person to take over these roles will be selected at the caucus 10 a.m. Sept. 16 in the Syd Garner Auditorium at the Lake County Government Center in Crown Point. People have until 10 a.m. Wednesday to announce their candidacy.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
09062017 - No means no, Portage Mayor James Snyder - You can't change someone's morals and ethics
Porter County Commissioner Jim Biggs made it clear that county commissioners won't negotiate with a public official under indictment. Perhaps Portage Mayor James Snyder needs to learn that he cannot bully, pressure, and/or persuade people to change their mortals and ethics.
UPDATE: County official to Portage: Joint building project is 'dead' idea
NWI Times
September 06, 2017
PORTAGE — The idea of a joint county/city building in Portage is dead, according to one Porter County official.
"It is dead. It would have never worked anyway," Porter County Commissioner Jeff Good, R-Center, said Wednesday morning after learning city officials here are trying to resurrect an effort to construct a new city/county building in Portage's downtown.
At Tuesday night's City Council meeting, Portage officials attempted to revive the idea, including having a consultant report on a recently completed cost/benefit analysis that concluded the project would be a good financial move by both the city and county.
City Council President Mark Oprisko, D-at-large, said Tuesday night the two sides have to get past "internal bickering" and do what's best for the residents.
He also said he had set up a meeting with Good next week.
Good said Wednesday morning that isn't true. He talked to Oprisko "for a few seconds" recently, but never set up a meeting.
He also disputed the accuracy of the report.
"The study was tainted. SEH never contacted us. They never got numbers from us," said Good. The property where the city would like the new building constructed is also not adequate for the county's needs, he said.
The idea of a joint building was dashed for good about two weeks ago when the county commissioners and County Council initiated a multimillion-dollar bond issue which would include money to renovate the North Porter County Annex on Willowcreek Road south of U.S. 6.
"The county made a decision to do their own thing. It has nothing to do with politics," said Good.
"We plead with the county to put aside all political, personal differences and think of all the citizens," said Andy Maletta, the city's economic development director, at Tuesday's meeting.
Maletta said the city's plan to construct a building on five acres between the city's police and fire stations on Central Avenue would save the county money in the long run by sharing services with the city. He also said the location would drive traffic to the city's newly developed downtown and that the location would not only better serve residents of Portage, but Chesterton, Porter and Burns Harbor as well.
Dan Botich, senior economic development professional of SEH, presented the cost-benefits analysis Tuesday night. The analysis looked at three scenarios, including renovating the county and city building, each entity constructing separate new buildings and entering the joint venture.
"It determines if the investment is sound, feasible and justified. It does not take into account the political decisions," said Botich.
The analysis determined it would be cost beneficial to the county to enter the joint project by spending less than the projected $10 million to renovate the present building.
However, said Botich, more importantly, it would open up the 13 acres on Willowcreek Road, the city hall site and surrounding area to additional development opportunities, spurring economic development and bringing more tax dollars into both the county and city.
The city has pledged a $9 million to $12 million investment, including purchasing the present county building, donating the five-acre site, constructing a parking garage and committing $5 million for construction of the new building.
Portage officials aren't giving up on getting county/city building in its downtown
NWI Times
September 06, 2017
PORTAGE — Officials here aren't giving up on convincing their county counterparts to construct a new city/county building on five acres downtown.
City Council President Mark Oprisko, D-at-large, said Tuesday night the two sides have to get past "internal bickering" and do what's best for the residents.
Mayor James Snyder has been trying to convince members of the Porter County Council and Commissioners to join the city and construct a new building on Central Avenue since he took office more than five years ago.
That idea seemed dashed about two weeks ago when the county bodies initiated a multi-million dollar bond issue which would include money to renovate the North Porter County Annex on Willowcreek Road south of U.S. 6. The county vote came despite a last-minute effort by the city to produce a cost-benefit analysis to county officials on why it would be better for the groups to join in constructing a new building that would serve the county and serve as a new city hall.
At Tuesday's City Council meeting, the issue was brought up again.
Oprisko said he has a meeting with Porter County Commissioner Jeff Good, R-Center, next week.
"We plead with the county to put aside all political, personal differences and think of all the citizens," said Andy Maletta, the city's economic development director.
Maletta said the city's plan to construct a building on five acres between the city's police and fire station on Central Avenue would save the county money in the long run by sharing services with the city. He also said the location would drive traffic to the city's newly developed downtown and that the location would not only better serve residents of Portage, but Chesterton, Porter and Burns Harbor as well.
In addition, by constructing the joint building, said Maletta, it would open up the land now housing the county building and city hall for additional economic development.
Dan Botich, senior economic development professional of SEH, presented the cost-benefits analysis Tuesday night. The analysis looked at three scenarios, including renovating the county and city building, each entity constructing separate new buildings and entering the joint venture.
"It determines if the investment is sound, feasible and justified. It does not take into account the political decisions," said Botich.
The analysis determined it would be cost beneficial to the county to enter the joint project by spending less than the projected $10 million to renovate the present building.
However, said Botich, more importantly, it would open up the 13 acres on Willowcreek Road, the city hall site and surrounding area to additional development opportunities, spurring economic development and bringing more tax dollars into both the county and city.
The city has pledge a $9 million to $12 million investment, including purchasing the present county building, donating the five-acre site, constructing a parking garage and committing $5 million for construction of the new building.
"We know the odds of getting this done are against us," said Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham, asking how the building would ensure continued economic development in the city's downtown.
Botich said it is a matter of demographics, using the building as an anchor and drawing not only employees of the county, but visitors to the new building to the downtown and to nearby retail and commercial businesses.
Commissioner: Porter County won't negotiate with indicted Portage mayor
Post-Tribune
August 29, 2017
The Porter County Commissioners will not negotiate with indicted Portage Mayor James Snyder over a plan to partner for a combined city/county building in the city's new downtown district, an official said.
Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, said in the days after the county council approved a $30 million bond for capital upgrades in the county, including expansion and renovation of the existing North County Annex on Willowcreek Road, that commissioners won't consider Portage's proposal for two reasons: financial feasibility and the November indictment of Snyder on federal charges of allegedly violating federal bribery statutes and obstructing Internal Revenue Service laws. Snyder has pleaded not guilty and is expected to go to trial early next year.
Snyder deferred comment on the matter to Economic Development Director Andy Maletta and Portage City Council President Mark Oprisko, D-At large.
Biggs, who pointed out that he is a Portage native, said county officials met with Portage officials about the proposal and determined that the most financially feasible option was for the county to upgrade the building it already owns in Portage.
He also said commissioners won't negotiate with a public official under indictment.
"The proposal cannot be accomplished without the cooperation of that city's mayor, and I'm not going to do it," Biggs said, adding the county's relationship with Snyder has been riddled with controversies, including over placement of the county's new animal shelter, and county officials have learned "that there is no negotiating with him."
"I am totally sympathetic to Portage officials that they have this shroud of uncertainty having over city government but it's there nonetheless," he continued.
City and county officials have been talking for three years about the possibility of a new county annex along Central Avenue, Oprisko said, calling the commissioners' response "pretty sad and pretty pathetic."
"Obviously I've wasted a lot of energy and dialogue," he said, adding city officials wanted to bring more development to the emerging downtown. "Portage has never had a downtown. This is a big thing for us."
City officials aren't asking for a handout from the county, he said, but for county officials to listen to them.
"It's all about Snyder," he said. "It comes down to Snyder but it's really sad because the city of Portage has more than 40,000 residents."
The County Council approved the bond issue on Aug. 22, and it includes spending $10 million to renovate and expand the North County Annex.
"I think it's at least worth vetting," said Maletta.
Portage would have committed $5 million intended for remodeling of its city hall to the project and the city's redevelopment commission would have purchased the county's building on Willowcreek, officials said. The city also offered to build a parking garage, and the redevelopment commission proposed donating the land for the combined building.
Commissioners and council members received an outline of the proposal and a letter supporting it from Maletta the evening before the council meeting.
"It wasn't malicious. It wasn't mean to anybody," Maletta said of the letter. "I even said in there that we are in support of them passing the bond."
The city of Portage paid the consulting firm SEH to put together the proposal at the request of the council, Maletta said, adding that Snyder purposefully removed himself from the matter so it wouldn't be volatile.
Portage officials were dismayed by video of the segment of the meeting on the bond issue, which is available on YouTube, and the reaction of commissioners, Maletta said, adding he didn't know if Snyder's indictment was a good enough excuse not to pursue a partnership.
"It's not fair to all of us working here to make (Portage) a better place," he said.
During the council meeting, Councilman Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, said he understood the pause among commissioners about dealing with Snyder, given the mayor's legal concerns.
Rivas said his fellow elected officials know how he feels about Snyder; in the weeks after Snyder's indictment, Rivas issued a statement requesting the mayor's resignation.
Still, he wanted commissioners to at least consider Portage officials' request for a partnership because good things could come out of it.
"The entire population of Portage has not been indicted," Rivas said.
09062017 - News Article - UPDATE: County official to Portage: Joint building project is 'dead' idea
UPDATE: County official to Portage: Joint building project is 'dead' idea
NWI Times
September 06, 2017
PORTAGE — The idea of a joint county/city building in Portage is dead, according to one Porter County official.
"It is dead. It would have never worked anyway," Porter County Commissioner Jeff Good, R-Center, said Wednesday morning after learning city officials here are trying to resurrect an effort to construct a new city/county building in Portage's downtown.
At Tuesday night's City Council meeting, Portage officials attempted to revive the idea, including having a consultant report on a recently completed cost/benefit analysis that concluded the project would be a good financial move by both the city and county.
City Council President Mark Oprisko, D-at-large, said Tuesday night the two sides have to get past "internal bickering" and do what's best for the residents.
He also said he had set up a meeting with Good next week.
Good said Wednesday morning that isn't true. He talked to Oprisko "for a few seconds" recently, but never set up a meeting.
He also disputed the accuracy of the report.
"The study was tainted. SEH never contacted us. They never got numbers from us," said Good. The property where the city would like the new building constructed is also not adequate for the county's needs, he said.
The idea of a joint building was dashed for good about two weeks ago when the county commissioners and County Council initiated a multimillion-dollar bond issue which would include money to renovate the North Porter County Annex on Willowcreek Road south of U.S. 6.
"The county made a decision to do their own thing. It has nothing to do with politics," said Good.
"We plead with the county to put aside all political, personal differences and think of all the citizens," said Andy Maletta, the city's economic development director, at Tuesday's meeting.
Maletta said the city's plan to construct a building on five acres between the city's police and fire stations on Central Avenue would save the county money in the long run by sharing services with the city. He also said the location would drive traffic to the city's newly developed downtown and that the location would not only better serve residents of Portage, but Chesterton, Porter and Burns Harbor as well.
Dan Botich, senior economic development professional of SEH, presented the cost-benefits analysis Tuesday night. The analysis looked at three scenarios, including renovating the county and city building, each entity constructing separate new buildings and entering the joint venture.
"It determines if the investment is sound, feasible and justified. It does not take into account the political decisions," said Botich.
The analysis determined it would be cost beneficial to the county to enter the joint project by spending less than the projected $10 million to renovate the present building.
However, said Botich, more importantly, it would open up the 13 acres on Willowcreek Road, the city hall site and surrounding area to additional development opportunities, spurring economic development and bringing more tax dollars into both the county and city.
09062017 - News Article - Portage officials aren't giving up on getting county/city building in its downtown
Portage officials aren't giving up on getting county/city building in its downtown
NWI Times
September 06, 2017
PORTAGE — Officials here aren't giving up on convincing their county counterparts to construct a new city/county building on five acres downtown.
City Council President Mark Oprisko, D-at-large, said Tuesday night the two sides have to get past "internal bickering" and do what's best for the residents.
Mayor James Snyder has been trying to convince members of the Porter County Council and Commissioners to join the city and construct a new building on Central Avenue since he took office more than five years ago.
That idea seemed dashed about two weeks ago when the county bodies initiated a multi-million dollar bond issue which would include money to renovate the North Porter County Annex on Willowcreek Road south of U.S. 6. The county vote came despite a last-minute effort by the city to produce a cost-benefit analysis to county officials on why it would be better for the groups to join in constructing a new building that would serve the county and serve as a new city hall.
At Tuesday's City Council meeting, the issue was brought up again.
Oprisko said he has a meeting with Porter County Commissioner Jeff Good, R-Center, next week.
"We plead with the county to put aside all political, personal differences and think of all the citizens," said Andy Maletta, the city's economic development director.
Maletta said the city's plan to construct a building on five acres between the city's police and fire station on Central Avenue would save the county money in the long run by sharing services with the city. He also said the location would drive traffic to the city's newly developed downtown and that the location would not only better serve residents of Portage, but Chesterton, Porter and Burns Harbor as well.
In addition, by constructing the joint building, said Maletta, it would open up the land now housing the county building and city hall for additional economic development.
Dan Botich, senior economic development professional of SEH, presented the cost-benefits analysis Tuesday night. The analysis looked at three scenarios, including renovating the county and city building, each entity constructing separate new buildings and entering the joint venture.
"It determines if the investment is sound, feasible and justified. It does not take into account the political decisions," said Botich.
The analysis determined it would be cost beneficial to the county to enter the joint project by spending less than the projected $10 million to renovate the present building.
However, said Botich, more importantly, it would open up the 13 acres on Willowcreek Road, the city hall site and surrounding area to additional development opportunities, spurring economic development and bringing more tax dollars into both the county and city.
The city has pledge a $9 million to $12 million investment, including purchasing the present county building, donating the five-acre site, constructing a parking garage and committing $5 million for construction of the new building.
"We know the odds of getting this done are against us," said Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham, asking how the building would ensure continued economic development in the city's downtown.
Botich said it is a matter of demographics, using the building as an anchor and drawing not only employees of the county, but visitors to the new building to the downtown and to nearby retail and commercial businesses.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
09052017 - News Article - Proposal for city/county building - PDF - Google Drive
Proposal for city/county building - PDF - Google Drive
NWI Times
Sep 05, 2017
http://www.nwitimes.com/records/documents-and-reports/proposal-for-city-county-building/pdf_b0e2f7cc-d8ff-5ee4-89a8-9de69e0a0add.html
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