Council approves Damon Run capacity fee increase, updates ethics code; votes to continue alley-vacation hearing

The Valparaiso Common Council took three procedural actions on second readings and hearings: it approved Ordinance 14-20-25 to increase the capacity fee for new connections in the Damon Run service area, approved Ordinance 15-20-25 to update the municipal ethics code with references to five state statutes, and held a public hearing on Ordinance 16-20-25 (a petition to vacate a platted alley) and voted to carry that item to the next council meeting.

Ordinance 14-20-25: Capacity fee increase - The council approved an amendment to the capacity fee for all new connections in the Damon Run area. The fee will increase from $2,700 to $4,909 for new connections; the City of Portage will receive $4,000 of that fee and the remainder will go to Valparaiso City Utilities, according to the ordinance summary presented at the meeting. City staff and the City Utilities Board of Directors provided notice…