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.