Martin Bobcek

The meeting agenda for the Porter County Council included several first readings for budget adjustments and appropriations across various departments. Key discussions involved salary adjustments and budget clean-up for the Juvenile Detention Center, Juvenile Probation Department restructuring, and salary adjustments for elected officials in the Circuit Court, Commissioners, Prosecutor, Recorder, Assessor, Treasurer, Clerk, Surveyor, and Coroner offices. Significant appropriations were requested for the Highway department for salt, bituminous, and aggregates. The Health Department sought appropriations from a Bioterrorism Response Grant for supplies, training, travel, and contractual services. Additionally, the agenda covered appropriations from an Opioid Restricted Fund for Adult Probation to cover salaries and benefits related to a newly awarded Matching Grant, and a transfer of funds within the Jail for salaries and FICA.

The Porter County Council reorganization meeting agenda included the election of officers, specifically the Council President and Vice President. Key items involved the review and potential reappointment for several citizen and council appointments across various boards and commissions, such as the PC Redevelopment Commission, Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC Board), and Park Board. Additionally, the agenda listed Council Liaison Appointments for numerous departments and entities, including Adult Probation, Airport, Assessor, and Health Department. The agenda also accounted for an Attorney Contract review, a Surveyor Agreement discussion, and review of 2025 Encumbrances from the Auditor's Office.

The meeting included a reorganization segment to appoint a President, Vice President, Secretary, and County Attorney. Key agenda items involved awarding bids for 2026 Highway Department Supplies, including limestone, slag, fuel, and culverts. Numerous appointments were on the docket for various boards such as Alcohol Beverage, Board of Health, Plan Commission, and Recycle and Solid Waste. Commissioners discussed their appointments to several internal boards. Other discussions included a legal service agreement, the status and rehabilitation plan for Murhvill Rd., approval of the Emergency Board-Up Services Rotation List, and a Cooperative Funding and Development Agreement concerning Parks and Recreation, the Expo Center, and the Museum. Resolutions included the transfer of Shadow Wood Pond property to Portage. Significant financial activity focused on pay applications for Skillman Projects (Jail and Highway departments) and facilities projects (157 Franklin and JDC), with several payments sourced from the 2024 Bond Project. Further items covered an agreement to upgrade the E911 logging recorder, a request to lease a new vehicle for the EMA, the approval of 2026 Catering and Concession Agreements for the Expo Center, ordinances related to vacating portions of CR 175 S Right-of-Way, a zoning map amendment first reading, and a request from the Valparaiso Family YMCA to host an event.

The agenda for the regular meeting includes the Pledge of Allegiance, correspondence review, and new business items requiring variances. New business features Case DV-2026-1, requesting a reduction in the required side yard setback and permission to exceed the maximum impervious surface coverage for a new primary structure. Case DV-2026-2 involves a request for multiple variations concerning commercial structures, including setbacks, impervious surface coverage, building design/style, façade materials, corner count, roof standards, height, landscaping/Green Belt requirements, setback relief, accessory structure placement, and accessory structure square footage relative to the primary structure.

The meeting agenda included a review and approval of payroll and claims from previous weeks, as well as the Weights and Measures Monthly Report. Discussions under Skillman Projects focused on various pay applications for the Jail construction, involving contractors like Gariup, Kleckner Interior, and Quality Control. The Highway department requested five new employees and multiple significant additional appropriations totaling millions of dollars for Road Preservation, Right of Way Maintenance, purchasing road materials (salt, aggregates, bituminous), and new employee positions related to bridge crew transitions. The IT department sought an appropriation for annual maintenance agreements for courtroom audio systems. E-911 addressed a financing contract for a call recording system. The Development & Storm Water Management agenda involved a second reading of an ordinance for a zoning map amendment, agreements for Construction Engineering Services for the Marquette Greenway -- Calumet Trail Reroute, approval for a Sanitary Force Main Relocation project, a decrease in the final contract amount for Bridge 80, an amendment to professional services for the trail reroute, documentation updates for INDOT compliance, a quote for GPS survey equipment services, dedication of Public Right of Way to Valley Baptist Church, and professional services agreements with Richard L. Hudson and Kurt S. Knutsen. Valparaiso Events requested the use of the Courthouse grounds for five separate events planned throughout 2026: the Chocolate Walk, Popcorn Festival, Autumn Promenade, Downtown Trick or Treat, and Holly Days.