Porter County is set to begin rationing road salt after receiving nearly half of its expected supply for the winter season, with three months still remaining until spring. The decision follows a unanimous vote by the Porter County Board of Commissioners on the morning of February 6, 2024, based on recommendations from Highway Superintendent Jim Polarek.
With the winter months ahead, Polarek emphasized the urgent need for conservation. He noted, “Keep doing what we’re doing and we’re going to run out of salt.” The highway department plans to prioritize salt application at critical points such as intersections, hills, bridges, and curbs within subdivisions, while aiming to minimize usage on less trafficked roads.
3,300 tons of road salt have been delivered so far, out of a total agreed purchase of 7,000 tons. Polarek warned that forecasts for February and March predict below-average temperatures and above-average precipitation. He added that one icy event could consume up to 1,500 tons of salt in a single morning.
In addition to subdivisional roads, the county will continue to treat major thoroughfares, including 100 S, Smoke Road, Division, and Meridian Road, with regular salt application. In response to a question from Commissioner Barb Regnitz, Polarek mentioned the financial implications of purchasing additional salt. In a previous year, the county had to pay an additional $25 per ton towards the end of the season, translating to an estimated $37,500 for a morning’s allocation of 1,500 tons.
Board Leadership Changes and Fire Feasibility Committee Formation
During the same meeting, the board reorganized its leadership. Commissioner Ed Morales from South County was appointed president, while Regnitz took on the role of vice president and Commissioner Jim Biggs from North County became secretary. The board also unanimously retained Scott McClure as County Attorney for another year.
McClure was tasked with establishing guidelines for a new South County Fire Feasibility Committee, aimed at evaluating the West Porter Township Fire Protection District’s funding challenges. He suggested that the committee follow the model set by the Opioid Committee, which was created to oversee the distribution of funds from opioid settlements.
Biggs highlighted the importance of organization and direction, stating that the committee would consist of approximately nine members, with Mike Jabo, the county’s executive director of Development & Storm Water Management, serving as chair. Jabo, a south county resident and former volunteer firefighter, was unanimously approved for the position.
The board also assigned members to various county boards. Biggs will represent the county on Community Corrections, Child Protection, NIRPC, and E-911; Morales will serve on Juvenile Justice, Redevelopment, Plan Commission, and EMA; while Regnitz will take on roles with Storm Water, the Center for Workforce Innovations, and the Opioid Committee.
Additionally, several citizens were appointed to various boards, including Bob Filipek for the Alcohol Beverage Board, Amanda Pirowski-Alaniz and Linda Nowzaradan Boxum, DO for the Board of Health, and Richard Connor Riley and George H. Topoll for the Convention, Recreation, and Visitors Commission, among others.
The decisions made during this session highlight the board’s proactive approach toward managing both immediate road safety concerns and long-term community challenges in Porter County.
