The installation of Emergency Vehicle Preemption traffic lights is moving forward in Duneland communities with the Indiana Department of Transportation’s award of a contract for the project.
Town Engineer Mark O’Dell told the Chesterton Town Council Monday that INDOT on Feb. 11 awarded the contract to Michiana Contracting Inc. for $643,628.
A grant administered by the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission is covering 90% of the cost.
Emergency vehicles will be equipped with a transponder that can interrupt the normal operation of a traffic light. Emergency vehicles will get a green light while vehicles approaching from a cross direction are stopped, helping to reduce the potential for crashes.
In addition to Chesterton, Porter, along with Liberty and Portage townships, will be getting the specially equipped traffic control devices this year. Eleven locations have been chosen for Chesterton at intersections on Ind. 49, Indian Boundary Road and Calumet Avenue.
O’Dell said that Chesterton, as the lead applicant for the project, will have to get a memorandum of understanding with each of the other participating communities. Council also agreed with O’Dell’s recommendation that American Structurepoint be hired as the engineer for the project.
In other business, O’Dell said the town has been invited to apply again for the state Community Crossings grant.
O’Dell said the town will apply for a grant to help pay for repaving Indian Boundary Road and Plaza Drive.
The Town’s Redevelopment Commission, which is made up of council members and meets before council, agreed that the town is going to upgrade sidewalks on Indian Boundary Road so that they are accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Assistant Street Superintendent Dan Moy also reported that the town has purchased cameras for $48,000 to help regulate the traffic lights at the five-way intersection of Indian Boundary Road and Calumet Avenue and along Indian Boundary Road.
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Council also approved a resolution adopting a social media policy concerning comments posted on the town’s Facebook page.
The town would still keep a record of all comments but wouldn’t post those that include threats or harassment, inciting or promoting violence or illegal activities, or contain language that reasonably could compromise individual or public safety.
Laura Schillmoeller, a resident, said she was concerned, as a free speech absolutist, about the proposed policy. She said that true threats are not protected speech, but she noted that personal attacks considered to be offensive still have First Amendment protection.
Schillmoeller said that the policy can “in no way be unbiased” and that there are times now that the town’s Facebook “comes across as partisan.”
Kevin Nevers, the town’s public affairs liaison, said it’s unlikely that the new policy is going to change things that much. Nevers said that he is also an absolutist when it comes to free speech and that he seldom encounters comments that violate the guidelines.
Council also:
•Authorized the Chesterton Police Department to hire a police officer to replace Corporal Ryan Miller, who recently resigned after his arrest on a felony charge of assault.
•Opened three bids for the town’s street repaving for this year. Rieth-Riley Construction Co. at $714,792.50 and Milestone Contractors at $725,100 were the two lowest bidders. The town will evaluate the bids before awarding the contract.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.