Chesterton council appoints members for new sustainability commission
Six people were appointed Monday by the Town Council to serve on Chesterton's newly formed Sustainability Commission that is charged with examining environmental solutions for the community.
Chesterton is following a trend of communities establishing an environmental commission. The neighboring Town of Porter has had an Environmental Sustainability Commission operating for about a year and Valparaiso recently formed its own Environmental Advisory Board.
Those appointed for two-year terms are Emily Bretl, Matt Carter and Joshua Van Nevel. Angela Grady and Michael Spinar will serve one-year terms.
Athena Lafata, an 8th grader at Westchester Middle School, is the Duneland School Corporation representative who will serve a year on the board.
Athena is the daughter of Councilman Dane Lafata, D-3. Councilwoman Erin Collins, D-2, who spearheaded the implementation of the commission, said that Athena was the lone applicant for the student position on the board.
Collins said the person chosen to serve as the 18-to 25-year-old representative on the board couldn't commit, so the town is reopening the application process for that position.
Those who qualify are asked to submit an application by June 2. The town will make the appointment at the June 9 meeting.
State Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, spoke briefly to the Town Council about the recent state legislative session.
The Express Care at the Franciscan Emergency Center in Chesterton will be allowed to reopen because of a clause that Pol was able to get into House Bill 1004.
'It's a significant win for Chesterton and the surrounding communities,' Collins said.
Franciscan Health had closed the Urgent Care facility on Dec. 31, 2024, due to a state law change in 2023 that made it cost prohibitive. The emergency room has remained open.
Pol said that the aim of the 2023 law was to reduce healthcare costs in the state. He said that The Express Care in Chesterton became caught in a coding issue for federal reimbursement under that law, which led to the closing. Pol said he was able to get a clause into House Bill 1004 that exempted The Express Care in Chesterton.
Senate Bill 1, which contained property tax reforms, will have an effect on local government and school budgets.
Pol said that local governments in Porter County were already frugal. He said that communities will have to 'sharpen their pencils' when it comes to budgeting because of Senate Bill 1.
There are similar concerns for the school districts, including the Duneland School Corporation, Pol said.
Councilman James Ton, R-1, compared the situation to 'driving a car without enough oil in the engine.'
The council plans to have a public hearing soon concerning the rental of the Tilden building at 360 Lincoln Street in Porter for use by the fire department during the renovation of the Fire Station.
The Tilden building — which is currently empty — had been used as a pet supply store.
Fire Chief Sean O'Donnell said the fire trucks and operations could be moved there during the renovation project.
Town Council on Monday night had its meeting at the Baugher Center, which is owned by the Westchester Public Library. A dedication ceremony for the Town Hall/fire station remodeling project is set for 10 a.m. Friday at 8th Street and Broadway.
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