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LaPorte County MS4 board approves $28,007.83 in stormwater program spending; director reports enforcement successes
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Summary
The LaPorte County MS4 board on March 25 approved a $28,007.83 package of stormwater program expenditures, confirmed an intern cost-sharing arrangement and approved a monitor purchase; the MS4 director reported handling enforcement in‑house and recommended waiting on ordinance changes pending state rule updates.
Paul, the MS4 director, told the LaPorte County MS4 board on March 25 that the program has handled its enforcement matters in-house for the third consecutive year, using an "education first" approach and certified‑letter protocol to secure cooperative fixes from landowners.
The director said typical cases include unauthorized pond or wetland alterations and drainage changes that may cause prohibited discharges to downstream waters. "We examine the facts and findings for each of those cases," he said, adding that most remediation costs have been borne by the property owners and that the county has not initiated litigation on these matters to date.
The board approved several financial items during the meeting. Members voted to authorize a $28,007.83 package of expenditures from the stormwater operating fund to support programmatic items, including an intern cost‑share and public‑education projects; the motion carried by voice vote. Paul also said the stormwater operating fund balance was reported in the meeting materials and that 2026 fee revenue is projected at about $75,000–$80,000, with several large projects expected to increase receipts.
On personnel and small purchases, Paul said the Soil and Water Conservation District agreed to contribute $3,200 toward a third‑year Purdue intern, Casey Hunke, and that the total intern cost is $7,200; he asked the board to memorialize a budgeted expenditure to share that cost. The board also approved a request to purchase a wall‑mounted monitor from the stormwater operating fund to aid enforcement and technical meetings; Paul said he budgeted $2,000 for the monitor.
During the meeting legal consultant Jim Meyer urged caution before amending county stormwater or wetland ordinances, recommending the board wait for the final text of recent state legislation and the IDEM general permit before making changes. "It is better to do it one time," Meyer said, explaining that state and federal delegation of Clean Water Act responsibilities constrain how local ordinances may be revised.
Paul reported a separate remedial project that will require approximately $350,000 of restoration work after an unlawful activity; he said the property owner will fund the corrective engineering and remedial work. He also described several green‑infrastructure projects supported by Clean Water Indiana, including Trail Creek Friendship Gardens and a one‑acre landscaping project near the county museum.
Procedurally, the board amended the agenda to move the director's report earlier, approved the prior meeting minutes and closed public comment (no members of the public were present). The board set its next quarterly meeting for June 25 at 2 p.m. and adjourned following the vote.
The meeting record shows voice votes for the motions; specific roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the public transcript.
