Porter County officials are moving forward with plans for a partnership with the city of Portage to address stormwater issues in and around the intersection of County Road 700 North and Willowcreek Road.
At their meeting April 3, the county’s stormwater management board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Portage Utility Service Board to address stormwater issues in that area that have caused flooding problems.
Under the terms of the memorandum, the Portage Utility Services Board will be accountable for implementation and costs for project design and land acquisition, according to a release from county commissioners. The county’s stormwater board will be responsible for management and project construction costs.
It is estimated that the costs will be roughly equal for each entity, county officials said.
The memorandum will be finalized when approved by the Portage Utility Services Board. To date, Portage has already completed most of the design work, and the construction process can begin once Portage acquires the necessary land. The county currently has funding available for the construction work from a $20 million bond issue for stormwater improvement projects.
Once Portage approves the memorandum and completes land acquisition, the county is ready to get bids and break ground on the much-needed project, Commissioners President Jeff Good, R-Center, who also serves as president of the storm water board, said the release.
“We look forward to working with Portage on yet another project that will benefit the residents of the city of Portage and Portage Township,” Good said.
The memorandum also will serve as a template for cooperative stormwater projects between the county and other municipalities, officials said. The county is already working with the town of Hebron on a drainage project and the city of Valparaiso on a watershed study.
“Stormwater is a mutual concern between the county and all of our cities and towns because flooding does not recognize municipal boundaries,” said Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, who also serves on the stormwater board, in the release. “By working together with equitable resource sharing, we can tackle even more projects that will positively impact the quality of life and property values for all Porter County residents.”
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
