County could be nearing deal to extend utilities to hospital site

VALPARAISO | It looks as though the county may be nearing a deal to help fund Chesterton's effort to extend utilities south on Ind. 49 near where the new hospital is being built.

Town officials are expected to appear Tuesday to discuss the proposal with the county commissioners.

Porter County Commissioner President John Evans, R-North, said he has been in contact with the town since the proposal first was pitched in November.

Chesterton had requested the county kick in $2 million of the $6 million needed to extend sanitary sewer, water and fiber optic lines south to the area of Ind. 49 and U.S. 6.

Evans said the request has been reworked and less money may be needed from the county.

The county would benefit from the project by having unincorporated areas nearby better prepared for development expected as a result of the new Porter hospital, he said.

"There's going to be so many opportunities there," Evans said.

The county could fund its portion of the work with local income tax revenue or the interest money generated by the 2007 sale of the county hospital, he said. Either approach calls for approval from both the commissioners and County Council.

County officials also must decide whether to loan the money to Chesterton or enter into a partnership, Evans said. The partnership model makes sense considering the county would benefit from the results of the work, he said.

Partnerships such as this could be pursued with other communities as well, Evans said.

The project, which also calls for $2.74 million from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and $1.2 million from the town, has the potential to create 4,100 jobs, $690 million in capital investment and $8.7 million in property taxes in an area now generating less than $200,000, consultant Matthew Reardon, of SEH of Indiana, said in November.

Chesterton Town Councilman Jeff Trout has said he views the request as the county investing in itself, and he favors a partnership approach.