The Portage City Council has scheduled a special meeting for April 27 to deal with litigation, the Public Employees Retirement Fund and other issues.
The council plans a closed-door executive session before the open meeting at 6 p.m. that day to discuss litigation and other issues City Attorney Dan Bortnicki plans to present to them.
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Liz Modesto said the State Board of Accounts has completed an audit for an ongoing investigation and plans to present the findings to the prosecutor. A confidential meeting with city officials and the SBOA is set for April 13 to discuss the results.
“It is not something that the city wasn’t aware of. It’s something that the city was aware of previously. It was referred to the prosecutor’s office long ago,” Councilman Collin Czilli, D-5th, said.
Modesto said the SBOA auditors are frequent guests at City Hall, conducting annual audits because of the size of grants the city receives. “I don’t mind getting audited every year. I think it’s easier,” she said. Modesto encouraged department heads to apply for as many grants as they can.
In other business, Redevelopment Director Dan Botich walked the council through a series of measures regarding tax increment financing districts.
The first is for the Kayak Point allocation area on 40 acres east of Samuelson Road and U.S. 20. Glass Solutions Inc., the first tenant there, plans a total investment of $32 million to $40 million, and negotiations are underway with a second tenant that would make a similarly sized investment, Botich said. The second tenant would provide raw materials for assembly, he said.
Botich said he couldn’t name that company, “but I can tell you the product that they make is used throughout the country,” and you probably drive past it every day. “That product will be made in Portage, Indiana.”
The Kayak Point TIF district is carved off of another district, requiring another set of paperwork. “It’s a land use issue that is moot because nothing changed,” Botich said.
The TIF district derives its name from a future kayak launch planned for 5 to 7 acres along Salt Creek the property owner plans to donate. Wetland constraints there mean U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permission is needed before the city can build the kayak launch, Botich said.
“We actually call ourselves the Salt Creek Conspirators,” Mayor Austin Bonta said. The group is working to increase access for canoes and kayaks on the creek, including into Indiana Dunes National Park. The Northwest Indiana Paddlers Association is also involved in the effort, Botich said.
Two development agreements are under final review for Simon Commercial Real Estate, which is developing land on the southeast and southwest corners of U.S. 6 and Airport Road.
The Target development is part of an 84.3-acre site that includes residential use on about half the land. The commercial half includes a 129,000-square-foot Target store as part of the 336,000 square feet of commercial space, Botich said.
“It’s a $91 million investment,” including soft costs of $21 million, he said.
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The southwest corner includes 21.5 acres where BJ’s Warehouse and other commercial properties will be located.
As part of that project, Veterans Parkway will be extended to Airport Road, Botich said.
Planning and Development Director Tom Cherry said the project includes a stormwater connection to alleviate water issues, including detention ponds, paid for by the developer.
The city’s Redevelopment Commission will pay for the Veterans Parkway extension, he said.
“Portage is open for business, and we’re looking forward to working with developers,” Botich said.
Holly Szmutko, of Chesterton, persuaded Bonta to promise a proclamation for National Donate Life Month. Szmutko, who received a double lung transplant in 2021, has been waiting for a kidney since July 2025.
Over 100,000 Americans are awaiting transplants, she said, with another added to the list every eight or nine minutes. Each day, 16 to 17 people die awaiting transplants that never happen.
“If you’re not registered, please consider getting registered,” Szmutko said. “Organ donations save human lives. It’s saved my life, and it’s going to save it again.”
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.