PORTER | The Porter Town Council approved funds Tuesday to purchase a new police K-9, which will be acquired as early as Thanksgiving week.
At the request of the Porter Police Commission, the board approved an expenditure of $14,845 from county economic development income tax funds to purchase the dog as well as the essential training from Faus K-9 Specialties in Elkhart.
The German shepherd will be handled by Officer Scott Cornelison, whose previous police dog, Nicky, died last month from a twisted stomach after emergency surgery.
Cornelison will train with the dog for two weeks before the canine is added to the force.
Police Chief Jamie Spanier asked the council to take under advisement the possibility of purchasing an insurance policy on the dog, which could cost between 8 percent and 10 percent of the dog’s cost, he said.
“We are looking to possibly roll it into an existing policy, but we are also looking at other companies, and this might be a good thing to consider in case of disability,” Spanier said.
The council also approved the Plan Commission request to expand the tax increment financing district to include the new Seven Peaks Waterpark and surrounding area, four parcels of land that were thought to already have been in a TIF district but were not recorded properly years ago.
The approval now goes to the town’s Redevelopment Commission for public hearing.
Public Works Director Brenda Brueckheimer warned residents and visitors that a large sewer main project would begin downtown and over the next four weeks people can expect intermediate closures of Porter Avenue.
The town’s Park Department will host its annual Boo Bash on Sunday at Hawthorne Park.
The free event will offer children through age 12 the chance to receive candy and enter costume contests for prizes.
Trick-or-treat hours for Porter are from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
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