Porter County RDC tackles cleanup along US 6 in South Haven

Aug 01, 2023

The Porter County Redevelopment Commission is launching an initiative to improve the South Haven U.S. 6 corridor, which runs from the Portage city limit east to Indiana 149. Sign ordinance violations, unsafe structures, construction materials, refuse and easements that aren’t mowed are their main concerns.

The safety issues and eyesores have been on the county’s radar for about two years, according to Stu Summers, consultant to the redevelopment commission.

“We found parking lots that were in disarray, trash cans kicked over, debris and refuse being stored along Route 6. When there’s a violation of a code it becomes kind of contagious. We see that with graffiti,” said Summers at the commission meeting Tuesday afternoon.

He also said construction materials and pallets are not to be stored along U.S. 6, nor are businesses to have barbed wire along their fences as at least one business has encircling two lots. The commission unanimously approved the concept of improving the area and heard proposed components of a $230,000 Targeted Code Enforcement budget.

This stretch along U.S. 6 in South Haven, pictured Wednesday, March 29, 2023, will be among those analyzed for Porter County code enforcement violations once a new code enforcement officer is hired exclusively to monitor the area. (Shelley Jones / Post-Tribune)

The first appropriation of funds is likely to be $30,000 for the hiring of a part-time code enforcement officer who will work exclusively in the U.S. 6 corridor. The county currently has one full-time code enforcement officer responsible for the entire county.

It is widely accepted and openly mentioned at county meetings that he is stretched too thin. “Unless someone’s calling and complaining about that it doesn’t necessarily end up on our to-do list,” County Attorney Scott McClure said of violations to Porter County’s Unified Development Ordinance.

The law does allow for code enforcement and the redevelopment commission is counting on this additional staff member and good will with the South Haven community after considerable stormwater and road repairs in the area to send the message that the county can be relied upon to follow through.

“It’s a fair process, but it needs to be a firm one,” Summers said. “I think we’ll start with community engagement.”

If that doesn’t work, violators can be issued tickets, hearings can be held, and if a judgment is made in the county’s favor, contractors can be brought in by the county to clean up properties and analyze the soundness of structures. The owner can then be held responsible for the associated costs of such analysis and clean up.

To facilitate this the proposed budget also calls for the hiring on a contractual basis of a structural engineer for the analysis of structures that may be unsafe, as well as $45,000 for legal services and notices, $100,000 for demolition and clearance, and $25,000 for property clean up.

“What we’re trying to do here is send a message that we care,” said Porter County Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, who also serves as president of the redevelopment commission. “We know that these properties are expensive.”

McClure said viable businesses that have always been in compliance will certainly gain from a fair enforcement of standards. “They should welcome us,” he said.

Porter County Council President Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, who also serves as vice president of the redevelopment commission, said the group needs to meet regularly if it’s committed to these improvements in South Haven. His district includes South Haven.

Biggs said he wants to meet monthly.

Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.