EDITORIAL: Van Til playing self-serving politics

Lake County Surveyor George Van Til claims he has been transparent over his quest to establish a Little Calumet River conservancy district.

However, the most recent episode in this ongoing soap opera suggests differently.

Van Til insisted he meet Monday with Munster officials in a Town Hall meeting room holding 100 people. Town officials opted for the much larger Munster High School auditorium, seeking to make sure there would be plenty of room for interested residents to attend. Van Til canceled.

He continues to insist there is a sinister plot against his plan. Meanwhile, community after community has voted or voiced opposition. From Highland to Hobart and Portage to Merrillville, there appears to be united opposition to establishing yet another layer of government in Lake and Porter counties.

Times columnist Mark Kiesling suggested Monday it is a case of balkanization, the region's communities unable to unite. The fact is a majority of communities have united in opposition.

Most important, though, is that the basic issue is being overlooked: How to prevent flooding along the Little Cal and who should be responsible.

The developing system of levees and flood control devices put into place should provide necessary protection against flooding. As to who should be responsible, the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission established by the state Legislature should be responsible.

What's needed now is for the state Legislature to broaden the commission's membership and provide a fair funding mechanism to continue the commission's work.

What isn't needed is for Van Til to continue to mount his soap box, claiming purity of purpose while playing self-serving politics.