The estimated cost has risen to $8.95 million for a 0.82-mile section of the Marquette Greenway trail in Burns Harbor for what probably is the most expensive stretch to be built between Chicago and New Buffalo, Michigan.
Tina Rongers, the town’s economic consultant, revealed what the new maximum price could be for the trail during the town’s Redevelopment Commission meeting Wednesday. The estimate includes a contingency for any potential cost overrun.
The reason why the section is so pricey is that it requires a boardwalk to be built over swampy land, retaining walls and a crossing underneath a Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge over the Little Calumet River. Rongers said there are also additional requirements because the project involves traversing land owned by the U.S. National Park Service and the railroad.
The overall trail, when it’s finished, will cover 60 miles between Chicago and New Buffalo.
Rongers proposed several ways to close a funding gap of around $2 million
The state contributed a $5 million grant through its Next Trails program, leaving the town to pick up the remaining tab. The town had set aside $1.9 million from its tax increment financing district collections.
The town will apply for a $1 million Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative grant through the Northwest Indiana Forum.
Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation has also offered a $50,000 contribution toward the project.
Rongers said the town could obtain a low-interest loan to cover the remaining $950,000 through the Northwest Indiana Growth Fund overseen by the Regional Development Authority.
The Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved the strategy.
At the Town Council meeting that followed, Council President Toni Biancardi said that no one has applied yet for the vacant clerk-treasurer’s job. Nick Loving, the last person to hold the job, resigned effective May 15.
Porter County Democratic Party Chairman Don Craft has the power to appoint a replacement through Sunday.
If no one steps forward, Biancardi said that the Town Council will then have the power to appoint a successor.
Madeline Parker, who is the assistant clerk-treasurer, has been handling the duties with help from Flex Government Consultants.
Council also gave its tentative approval to an agreement with the Shirley Heinze Trust to build a staircase for a kayak takeout spot on the Little Calumet River, east of Ind. 149 in Burns Harbor. The agreement will become effective after Town Attorney Clay Patton reviews it.
Kris Krouse of the Shirley Heinze Land Trust said the project will cost around $100,000. The Shirley Heinze Land Trust has received a grant from the Chi-Cal River Fund to finance the development of a water trail on the Little Calumet River.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
