While funds have yet to be appropriated, the majority of Porter County government leaders met Wednesday evening to learn the scope of storm cleanup and commit to the effort, which will cost an estimated $7 million to $10.75 million.
That figure would include removing debris from county right-of-ways as well as grinding and removal of vegetation from the county’s compost sites, which had just had their annual clear-out before the Aug. 11 derecho and are again around 80% full following the unprecedented storms.
“It was very random in what it did, where it did it,” Porter County’s Executive Director of Planning & Storm Water Management Mike Jabo told the Porter County Council Wednesday afternoon.
Joining him in the presentation were Porter County Board of Commissioners President Ed Morales, R-South, and Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, as well as Porter County EMS Director Lance Bella, Recycling & Waste Reduction Director Keri Marrs Barron, Highway Department Superintendent Jim Polarek, E911 Executive Director Debby Gunn, and County Attorneys Adam Mindel and Scott McClure.
Absent were County Commissioner Barb Regnitz, R-Center, and County Councilmen Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, and Greg Simms, D-3rd.
“It’s been a pretty intense three weeks since the storm. It’s the first time we’ve ever dealt with something like this,” Jabo said, explaining the process again for tracking storm debris in an attempt to receive reimbursement from FEMA, which requires “cradle to grave” documentation.
He showed a map of the severity of storm damage across the county. “Probably the heaviest we found was in Jackson Township and southeast Chesterton,” Jabo said. Moderate damage was suffered to the north, west, and southwest of those areas.
The total impacted area is 158 square miles and 305 road miles. County roads 250 E and 350 E were particularly impacted. All roads are now clear, though trees referred to as “hangers” and “leaners” still clutter many right-of-ways.
More Top Picks Best Espresso Machines For Beginners
Jabo told the council debris collection from the right-of-ways, handling, and disposal – probably to a clean wastefill – is guesstimated at $5 to $8 million. “We’ve given it a lot of thought,” he said. “We’ve been up and down, up and down.”
The council discussed whether the Cumulative Bridge Fund could be used as a funding mechanism to foot the bill, and both county attorneys, while acknowledging temporary borrowing may be a gray area, recommended against it. “At some point, how long is too long that we haven’t paid it back?” McClure speculated on the idea.
“I don’t think the loan is what we’re looking at first. I just want to know all the options,” said County Councilman Andy Bozak, R-At-Large. Council Vice President Red Stone, R-1st, said he believes the county is already $15 to $20 million underfunded for maintaining its 143 bridges and wouldn’t support taking money from the bridge fund.
“It goes quick,” he said, citing the $1.6 million currently being spent on a bridge in Liberty Township as an example. “I don’t think we’re properly funded in this county for infrastructure.”
There has been talk of using Porter County Foundation money to fund the cleanup, though that would require a unanimous vote of all 10 members of the Foundation Board made up of the seven County Council and three Board of Commissioners members. Biggs has put out an informal request on social media asking county residents to weigh in on the idea.
The county intends to hire FEMA public assistance consultant firm Del Sol Consulting, which is owned by two former FEMA employees, to navigate FEMA requirements and maximize reimbursement. Amy Krohn of Del Sol said her firm’s fee would be 5% of the total cleanup cost, the amount FEMA allows toward the administrative line item for cleanup.
With proper documentation, the county may recoup all but 6.25% of debris removal costs. “When we had the floods nine years ago, we had everything documented the way it was supposed to be,” Bella said, yet the county still didn’t receive high reimbursement rates.
Jabo said the county will post a request for bids from debris removal contractors next week. Contractors will have two weeks to submit bids.
Councilman Mike Brickner, R-At-Large, asked if the cities and towns would benefit from the cleanup efforts, and Biggs clarified that cleanup will only be for unincorporated county right-of-ways.
Councilwoman Michelle Harris, R-At-Large, said council members are inundated with emails daily and asked the department heads to ensure county residents are aware of plans and where they can receive legitimate, vetted assistance.
Jabo said he envisions a county-wide debris pick-up plan organized by zones similar to the way the city of Valparaiso conducts leaf clean up. Bella said legitimate resources are listed on the county’s EMA Facebook page and the left side of the county’s homepage. His department is working to connect volunteer organizations with residents who can’t get their own debris to the right-of-ways.
The county is hosting one-stop shops that began Wednesday and run daily through Saturday at Woodland Park’s upstairs Sycamore Room in Portage. Fifteen vetted agencies will be on hand to assist residents in storm recovery in one location. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
More Top Picks Best Gaming Phones
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.