Porter County opponents of the Regional Development Authority promised a court challenge to a provision in the new state budget that allows any two Porter municipalities to void the county’s attempts to withdraw from the RDA.

In April, the County Council voted 4-3 to withdraw its representative to the RDA, with the majority citing popular opposition to the tax and perceived lack of benefit to the county from its membership.

“To allow two municipalities to put us into the RDA is taxation without representation,” Porter County Commissioner Bob Harper said Wednesday. “You shouldn’t have that decision put on you by officials you don’t vote for.”

Harper said he was sure courts would overturn the decision.

However, State Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) believes that the provision will pass the courts, saying that lawyers in Indianapolis vetted the language with precisely such a challenge in mind.

Dewey Pearman, Executive Director of the Construction Advancement Foundation of Northwest Indiana, weighed in on the controversy in the most recent issue (.pdf) of Building Indiana. He noted that Porter County has gotten more back in RDA-funded projects than it has paid in annual dues, and that those projects fuel the job creation that politicians always claim is a top priority.

It’s not enough for public officials to simply proclaim their support for job creation. They must take action. Economic development cannot happen in a community without the support and action of local government. Government actions create the public policy environment in which development efforts flourish or flounder. Porter County has decided to let development flounder in its communities.

Read the entire article on page 28 of the May/June issue.

In other Porter County news, the Porter County United Way has received $50,061 from FEMA to help area nonprofits expand food and shelter programs for the poor and homeless.

Following the death of pop star Michael Jackson last week, Gary residents are mourning another one-time resident who went on to stardom, actor Karl Malden. Malden passed away yesterday at the age of 97.

The St. Joseph County Council and the South Bend Common Council are mulling an income tax hike to address projected city and county budget shortfalls. South Bend says it will need to cut police, fire and parks services in the face of a $20 million gap. The county claims it will come up $6 million to $10 million short, and the city of Mishawaka says it needs to find about $1.5 million. The proposed increases, which would be effective October 1, include:

- Increase the current county economic development income tax from its current 0.2 percent to 0.4 percent.

- Impose a public safety local option income tax of 0.25 percent.

- Impose a property tax relief local option income tax, reducing the county property tax rate by 0.5 percent.

LaPorte Regional Health System (LRHS) has completed the acquisition of Starke Memorial Hospital from LifePoint Hospitals. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“We are pleased that the transaction has taken place, and we are focusing all of our efforts now on our main goal to enhance the quality of health care in Starke County and surrounding communities,” said Linda Satkoski, who has been appointed interim CEO of Starke Memorial Hospital effective today. “In preparation for this day, we have felt so welcomed by the community and we look very forward to being here.”
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The largest population gains among cities and towns in Indiana within the last year were concentrated in the Indianapolis metro area and in Lake County, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

The town of Winfield in Lake County is the fastest growing city or town in Indiana, with a 120.1 percent increase since 2000, bringing its 2008 population estimate to 4,484.

Following Winfield are Kempton (86.1 percent), Fishers (80.6 percent), New Palestine (64.8 percent) and Pittsboro (61.6 percent).

Portage (16th), Mishawaka (18th), Lafayette (19th) and Goshen (20th) were within the top 20 largest gainers outside the Indianapolis metro area or Lake County.

Meanwhile, four of the state’s six largest cities have seen population declines since 2000.
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For the second year in a row, the ITR Concession Co., which operates the Indiana Toll Road, will donate a portion of every toll paid on Saturday, July 4 to the Indiana National Guard Relief Fund.

More than 75,000 vehicles are expected to travel on the Indiana Toll Road on Independence Day. The ITRCC’s goal is a $10,000 donation to the Fund.

“July 4th is a time to celebrate with friends and families,” ITRCC CEO Fernando Redondo said, “and in honor of Indiana’s service members who must be away from their loved ones on this occasion, every vehicle that travels on the Indiana Toll Road will help contribute to the Relief Fund.

Since 2003, the Indiana National Guard Relief Fund has provided financial grants to the men and women of the Indiana National Guard and their families who are challenged by financial hardships because soldiers are on duty away from home, according to Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, the adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard.

“We are grateful that the administration and staff at the Indiana Toll Road would choose to honor Indiana National Guard servicemen and women and their loved ones in this manner,” Umbarger said. “We are deeply appreciative of the ITRCC and all those who travel this highway.”

An accomplished, 25-year fundraising professional and administrator in higher education and other not-for-profit settings has been appointed Vice Chancellor for Advancement at Purdue University Calumet.

Upon ratification by the Purdue University Board of Trustees, Evansville native Daniel L. Hendricks will join the Purdue Calumet senior leadership team Aug. 3. Hendricks, previously Vice President for Advancement and Public Services at Western Illinois University (WIU) and Executive Officer of the WIU Foundation, will oversee Purdue Calumet’s development, alumni, and marketing/university relations units.

He will succeed the retiring Judith Kaufman, who headed Purdue Calumet’s advancement operation since 2004.
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The State of Indiana remains open for business and recreation today thanks to the new budget passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Mitch Daniels late last evening. The two-year, $28.5 billion budget has several plums for the region, including $14 million to complete levee work on the Little Calumet River and $3 million to begin planning a $400 million teaching and trauma hospital in Gary, IN. The budget also calls for a Nov. 3 referendum in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties to decide whether to create a regional transit authority, which would fund a variety of train and bus projects through an 0.25 percent income tax. Finally, a clause in the new budget addresses Porter County’s recent attempts to withdraw from the Regional Development Authority. That decision can now be overridden by any two Porter County municipalities that wish to remain in the RDA.

In other news, a Hammond judge dismissed a request by an environmental group for an injunction to halt work on BP’s Whiting refinery expansion, and the City of Gary is seeking $25 million to demolish more than 1,100 vacant homes and businesses in Gary.

Nationally, a new report says that the U.S. private sector shed 473,000 jobs in June, after cutting 485,000 in May. The number of June cuts was larger than expected and dismayed those looking for evidence of an economic recovery. The jobless rate in Northwest Indiana topped 10 percent in May.

Methodist Hospitals has received the 2009/2010 Women’s Health Excellence Award from HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings organization, based on a newly released study of patient outcomes.

Hospitals that receive this award rank among the top 5% of all hospitals nationwide when it comes to providing care to women in three areas: Women’s Medicine (heart attack, congestive heart failure, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke); Women’s Cardiovascular Procedures (coronary bypass surgery, peripheral vascular bypass, coronary interventional procedures, resection/replacement of abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid surgery, and valve replacement); and Women’s Bone & Joint Health (total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, spinal surgeries, and hip fracture repair).

“We are honored to receive the Women’s Health Excellence Award from HealthGrades. This award further reinforces our commitment as the leader in subspecialty care for Northwest Indiana. Women are often times the healthcare drivers in their family but overlook their own health needs. It is important that women take time for themselves and their health needs, not only will it improve their own quality of life but also the lives of the people they care for. This designation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our primary care physicians, specialists, clinical staff and nurses,” stated Ian E. McFadden, CEO/President, Methodist Hospitals.
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The latest survey from Consumer Reports magazine has good news and bad news for contractors.

The good news? More than half of homeowners — 54 percent — say they are planning a home remodeling project within the next 12 months.

The bad news? Sixty-five percent also say they will do at least some of the work themselves in order to try and save money on the project.

Painting (56 percent), designing (39 percent) and flooring (34 percent) are the most popular remodeling jobs being planned. The most likely rooms to be remodeled are bathrooms (19 percent) and kitchens (17 percent).

The LaPorte Regional Health System (LRHS) Board of Directors has named G. Thor Thordarson President and CEO.

Thordarson has been serving in dual capacity as Interim President/CEO and Vice President of Corporate Operations since March 1. He joined LRHS in June 2008.

“At a time when the economy and health care reform are throwing curves at the health care system nationally and locally, Thor has guided the health system and Executive Team of LRHS with solid leadership, and strong strategic and critical actions that are ultimately helping the organization succeed in fulfilling its mission. We are pleased to have him as our new President and CEO,” said Robert Korfmann, chairman, LRHS Board of Directors.
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Gayle Van Sessen bows out today after 15 years as executive director of the Greater Crown Point Chamber of Commerce. Van Sessen is headed south to rural Tipton County, where she will take up the mantle of executive director of community and economic development.

Startup airline Viza Air is exploring the possibility of providing service to Newark, NJ, and Washington, DC, from the Gary/Chicago Airport.

The state budget standoff continues, though there are reports this morning that a tentative deal has been reached. Legislators from northern Indiana are still wrangling over various issues, however, including the creation of a local transit authority and funding for Gary, IN, schools.

In Washington, Indiana Representatives Joe Donnelly (D-South Bend), and Pete Visclosky (D-Merrillville), both cast “no” votes on climate change legislation before the House. The bill still passed narrowly. As currently constituted, the legislation could lead to a significant increase in energy costs for area businesses and residents.

Nationally, retailers are struggling with sluggish summer sales as consumers stash money in savings accounts instead of spending it at the mall.

The concern is that shoppers’ mood could actually level off in coming months. The Conference Board today is slated to release confidence figures for June that economists estimate at 55, which would be essentially even with May’s 54.9.

Friday’s government economic reports weren’t comforting to merchants, showing that households used most of their government stimulus payments to boost savings to the highest level in more than 15 years in May, instead of splurging at the mall.

“There was a lot of hope with the surge in confidence,” said Dennis Jacobe, Gallup’s chief economist. He added that consumers were convinced that the second half would be better but he noted, “you can live on that hope for only so long.”