Porter County council considers bond renewal, use of funds

The Porter County Authorities Heart is situated at 155 Indiana Ave. in Valparaiso. – Unique Credit score: Photograph courtesy of Porter County (Photograph courtesy of Porter County / HANDOUT)

The Porter County Council intends to ask the Porter County Board of Commissioners to provide you with a prioritization of the county’s infrastructure and capital tasks must be introduced at its August assembly.

As a mashup of the county’s govt and legislative branches, it’s the job of the commissioners to find out the course of the county’s tasks, whereas the council, because the fiscal physique, controls the financing of these tasks.

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The thought got here at Tuesday’s council assembly from Council President Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, after the council mentioned what to do concerning the $25 million Porter County Jail bond that can attain maturity on the finish of the 12 months. A dialogue of economic evaluation by Baker Tilly was on the agenda, although not mentioned, and Council Vice President Purple Stone, R-1st, introduced up the jail bond.

The bond might be reissued, however bond counsel and monetary advisers have suggested the county to start shifting on that course of by August or September. “I don’t suppose there’s an issue with the bond, shifting ahead with it,” Rivas mentioned. “I feel the issue appeared to be on the precedence of tasks.”

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He mentioned he had met with Board President Jim Biggs, R-North, two weeks prior and that he would assist a reissuance.

“I simply need to be certain that we get it on our radar, as a result of if we wait till December it’s going to price much more when different individuals are attempting to bond out,” mentioned Stone, including that he wish to carry the commissioners in to see what’s on their agenda.

Rivas reminded everybody of the $18.3 million per challenge most that enables the county to keep away from a referendum.

“At the least from my perspective, to assist it, the $18.3 million would want to go to the jail,” he mentioned.

Biggs and Board Vice President Barb Regnitz, R-Heart, have mentioned tentative concepts at administrative conferences for a $23.6 million Heart Storage, and preserving the jail upgrades restricted to the badly-needed new roof and plumbing and HVAC overhauls.

Councilman Mike Brickner, R-At-Massive, agreed with Rivas that the jail was a prime precedence. “I feel we’re all in settlement that the bond is a necessity. It’s only a matter of arising with a plan,” he mentioned, together with what to do if $25 million isn’t sufficient.

The county may have the choice of taking out one other, or second bond because it’s being referred to, three hundred and sixty six days after reissuing the jail bond. Rivas mentioned it appears the county will want the second bond to finish two such important tasks.

“I used to be nonetheless fairly shocked concerning the worth on the freeway (storage),” he mentioned.

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“The Taj Mahal,” chimed in Councilman Andy Bozak, R-At-Massive.

“The Storage Mahal because it’s being referred to as,” Rivas added. Stone agreed the estimate for the storage is overpriced.

The jail and its inmates current the county’s largest legal responsibility, Rivas added.

“I agree,” Stone mentioned. “I simply don’t like having energy performs.”

“We undoubtedly can get into the place the architect got here from and all of that if you wish to discuss energy performs,” Rivas countered. A and Z Engineering and Martin Riley Architects and Engineers put collectively a complete research of the Porter County Freeway Division in Might.

“We have to have good communication,” Bozak mentioned. “I feel we took a giant step right now with the Memorial Opera Home,” he added, referring to a compromise between the 2 our bodies to lastly transfer ahead on the spending of $5 million on the historic construction. “That was a giant step ahead, as a result of we’ve been type of locked up.”

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Shelley Jones is a contract reporter for the Put up-Tribune.