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| Porter County appears ready to build the wall http://www.northwestindiana.com/discussionforum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7122 |
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| Author: | Monkey Man [ Sat Aug 08, 2009 3:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Porter County appears ready to build the wall |
Lake County officials broke ground this week for an Interstate 65 interchange at 109th Avenue in Crown Point. Five miles down the road, Porter County Commissioner Bob Harper was planning his own landscaping. He's going to put up a wall at the county line, where 109th Avenue becomes County Road 100S in Porter County. Harper on Tuesday reiterated his resistance to converting 100S from a cart path to a real road, out of a fear that it might result in growth. Two years ago he refused to use $5.5 million in federal money, including $1 million acquired by Rep. Peter Visclosky, to improve 100S. The county would have had to kick in $1.4 million. "We have many roads in the county that have the very same conditions (100S) has," Harper said in 2007. "Why select this one? It's driven by the fact it's an extension of a plan of Lake County's for a main thoroughfare. We're not doing it." On Tuesday, Harper talked about Porter County's vision for the future being a good one. "And we're sticking to it," he said. So there. Start building the wall to keep those city slickers out of Rube County. On the other hand, maybe the wall isn't the best idea. Heck, if you build it, you'll have to man it with armed guards. And right now the county budget is pretty tight. Nevertheless, Harper said he's not going to improve 100S and suffer the blight of strip malls. And apartment buildings. Lord only knows what kind of people live in apartment buildings. Even without the wall, Harper said, he doesn't see growth rolling into Porter County. No sir, he's got an ace in the hole. "With the people on the Planning Commission now, you won't see (change) anytime soon," Harper said. That's pretty much what the communists said when they built the Berlin Wall. East Berlin suffered while West Berlin flourished. Go figure. Meanwhile, back in Crown Point, Mayor David Uran said the city has been preparing for growth along 109th that includes "high-end retail," hotels and corporate buildings. The new interchange is expected to result in 14,000 vehicles headed east down 109th Avenue every day. I can't say for sure, but I don't think all of them are going to stop at the county line. Despite Harper's best protestations, progress is coming. It's like a river that rolls over its banks -- you can't stop it. You either sink or swim. This thing called progress can be a pretty good concept if you plan for it. Or you can sit back like the town of Merrillville did and end up with a municipal mess. If Porter County wants to do the ostrich routine and not plan for the influx of cars and people, the result won't be pretty. But with the proper precautions, growth can be a wonderful thing -- expanding the tax base and improving the quality of life. If Porter County doesn't care to plan for a sound future, it ought to put up a toll booth at the county line. It will need the money to build the wall and erect a sign saying: The County of No. Contact Rich James at 648-3117 or rjames@post-trib.com |
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| Author: | Monkey Man [ Sat Aug 08, 2009 3:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Porter County appears ready to build the wall |
Once people start to get killed blood will be on his hands. |
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