Porter County Council

The Porter County Council is being warned of dangerous conditions at the Highway Department's Valparaiso garage. Andrew Waugh with Martin Riley Architects/Engineers says every building at the Valpo highway facility has structural issues, and one in particular has a central steel column that's rusted through.

A proposed renovation of the Memorial Opera House continued to be negotiated by the Porter County Council and Commissioners Tuesday.

Outgoing Porter County Council member Mike Jessen believes the county has accomplished at least as much during his eight years on the council as it had during the previous 20. "I don't say that do be braggadocious about it or say it was all Mike Jessen because it was far, far from that. It involved a lot of different people who were willing to work together, cooperate and collaborate," Jessen told the rest of the council Tuesday.

How big of a renovation the Memorial Opera House ends up getting remains up in the air. The majority of the Porter County Council supports a larger project that would rehabilitate the historic building and connect it to the former sheriff's residence. But the majority of the county commissioners want to look at lower-cost options, like renting out the sheriff's residence.

The Porter County Sheriff's Office is looking to hire a social worker. The county council and commissioners have approved the creation of a police resources and outreach (PRO) coordinator position.

The proposed renovation of the Memorial Opera House is further in doubt, with the Porter County Commissioners' plans to lease out the former sheriff's residence.

Porter County Council members would like to use some of the county's opioid settlement money for a new police social worker.

Funding has once again been pulled from the Memorial Opera House renovation and expansion.

Porter County government employees are set to get significant pay raises next year. The 2023 budget adopted by the county council Tuesday includes raises ranging from a minimum of $4,000 to a maximum of 20 percent.

Funding to upgrade the Memorial Opera House is apparently back in Porter County's plans for American Rescue Plan money.