Porter County Councilman Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, issued a warning at the end of the council meeting Tuesday evening regarding the cost of the $18 million highway garage being proposed by the Porter County Board of Commissioners.
“Last year I don’t think that’s what was agreed upon,” Rivas said. “Same time last year we requested from the commissioners to look at all the other facilities.
“I think everyone needs to pay attention to what’s going on with the bond,” he said of the $25 million bond the county will use to build the new garage and finance a portion of the renovations needed at the Porter County Jail. State law allows for up to $18.5 million to be used on any one project.
The county may issue a second bond 366 days after the issuance of the first. There is talk of doing so to complete needed work at the jail and other facilities that need attention such as the Juvenile Detention Center and county parking garage.
Rivas said the garage was initially slated to cost $10 to $12 million. “No way did anyone ever conceive of an $18 million garage,” he added.
Council Vice President Red Stone, R-1st, said “with construction costs going up” the cost wasn’t unreasonable and pointed out that construction was estimated at $12 to $14 million with soft costs making up the remainder.
“I wasn’t aware that it was going to cost that much,” said Council Member Sylvia Graham, D-At-Large.
“I sent a very detailed email, so we shouldn’t be surprised,” countered Council Member Andy Bozak, R-At-Large. “Now’s the time to talk to them.”
“I tried,” Rivas replied, saying he had sent an email asking the commissioners if it was necessary to spend $18 million and if the project might be built in phases, but got no reply.
Council Member Andy Vasquez, R-4th, suggested that perhaps there should be a committee regarding the county’s bond-funded projects. “Do we have a liaison to the commission?” he asked.
The council’s executive assistant replied that they did, but she didn’t know who it was. “It’s whoever they’ll talk to,” Rivas replied.
Stone encouraged Rivas to attend the status meetings that are held nearly every week regarding the project. “I wasn’t invited until just recently,” Rivas said. “Maybe the $18 million Garage Mahal is going to go. What I’m doing is protecting the taxpayers from unnecessary spending.”
Porter County Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, has said he’s doing the same by trying to provide a facility that will protect the county’s significant investment in trucks that are currently sitting outside and begin rusting in less than a year because of it and the lack of a space to wash off road salt.
“We have $32 million in trucks sitting out there,” he said of the current garage that dates back over 50 years. “If he ever had to go out in weather that is freezing and hook these things up, maybe he would understand that.”
Biggs acknowledged he had not answered an email from Rivas from about three weeks ago. He said Rivas was asking for documents from commissioners’ staff and that they would not be treated as errand boys.
Biggs said he would answer Rivas’ questions if he chose to attend a board of commissioners meeting and address the commissioners then. Otherwise, he will not speak with him.
“I hold dozens of emails from that man. I will not answer one of his emails because I won’t be talked to the way he wants to talk to people. I won’t be called names and I won’t be lied to,” Biggs said.
For his part, Rivas said many other municipalities park their equipment outside. He’s more worried about keeping people safe at the jail and juvenile detention center. “I’m interested in the liability where the lives are,” he said.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.