Having enjoyed a more sedate tone in the past calendar year than years past, the Porter County Council chose Tuesday evening to maintain the status quo and keep everyone in virtually the same positions of leadership and liaison.
Councilman Andy Vasquez, R-4th, maintained the presidency with a unanimous vote after he was nominated by Councilman Red Stone, R-1st, and seconded and trebled by Councilman Andy Bozak, R-At-Large, and Councilwoman Michelle Harris, R-At-Large.
Stone maintained the vice presidency following nomination by Councilman Mike Brickner, R-At-Large. Councilman Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, nominated Councilman Greg Simms, D-3rd, for the position, but the nomination died for lack of a second and Stone was unanimously appointed.
After the meeting, Vasquez pointed out that 2026 will be Stone’s fourth year as vice president. “He could have easily said, ‘It’s my turn.’ But he did not. He supported me and I appreciate him for that,” Vasquez said, adding, “I think last year was the most calm a lot of people have seen this council. Whether I am reelected or not in ‘26, I will not be president again.”
The council approved an attorney contract drawn up for them by County Attorney Scott McClure, who serves the Porter County Board of Commissioners and sat in to assist the council while it searches for a new attorney. County Attorney Harold Harper stepped down from serving the council after a decade. Numerous members of the council thanked him for his dedication.
In other business, budget adjustment appropriations of $2,000 raises for all elected officials were approved. Rivas voted against each and was joined by Stone and Harris in voting against the raises in November.
Rivas, Simms and Harris also voted against the adjustment appropriation for Coroner Cyndi Dykes.
“There were some offices where I thought the staff should have gotten the raise,” said Harris, who noted that deputy coroners are part-time, don’t receive benefits, and are underpaid in her opinion for the time they put in at all hours to respond to calls.
Rivas, Harris and Stone voted against appropriating the $2,000 salary adjustment for council members, as they originally voted against the raise in November. Harris also abstained from the vote for the salary adjustment appropriation for Recorder Chuck Harris, her husband, who, along with the commissioners, was the only elected official not listed by name on the agenda.
The council approved an additional appropriation of $200,000 so the highway department may purchase the maximum amount of road salt allowed under the state bid.
The topic of road striping was also brought up and Stone said a constituent recently called to report he was nearly hit head-on in rainy weather on an unstriped county road. Highway Superintendent Jim Polarek explained that the state mandates striping on any road that sees 3,000 vehicles per day and more money is being spent on striping than in the past.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
