The construction firm that built Chesterton’s police station will be the contractor for the remodeling of the Town Hall and fire station.

Chesterton’s Town Council Monday awarded the contract to Larson-Danielson Construction of LaPorte for $3,370,500 after the company was found to have the lowest and best bid out of four construction firms that submitted proposals. Larson-Danielson last year built the police station across the street at 8th and Broadway.

Town Council members said they were happy with the bids, which came in under an expected $4 million price. The scope of the project grew because of a decision that more remodeling work needed to be done with the fire station.

The updating of the Town Hall will improve its acoustics and aesthetics along with upgrading the technology.

The Town Hall’s interior will be reconfigured so the dais will be moved to the north side. The window on the east side of the building will be removed as part of an effort to lessen the noise from passing trains. New bathrooms will be built in the foyer area.

A 703-square-foot community room that will be available to the public will be created from space formerly used by the police department’s detective bureau.

Councilwoman Jennifer Fisher, I-Dist. 5s, said the community room will fill a need as she has already heard from people who are interested in using it.

On the fire station side, a two-story addition of 1,730 square feet will be built toward the back of the building.

That addition will allow for an internal reconfiguration with enhanced living quarters, dedicated office spaces for the chief and the two deputy chiefs and a 592-square-foot training room.

The council’s next step will be to obtain a bond to finance construction.

Last year the town expanded the Tax Increment Financing District to include the Town Hall and fire station at the corner of 8th Street and Broadway. The town will be able to use property tax revenues collected within the district to pay off the bonds.

In other business, the council decided to suspend its efforts to pursue a federal safe streets grant because of future uncertainty with the town’s revenue due to the state legislature’s recent passage of Senate Enrolled Act 1. The legislation provides property tax reform and a break for homeowners, but local governments and schools say it will financially impact their operations.

Clerk-Treasurer Courtney Udvare said she will have a detailed report soon on what the financial effect will be in the coming years.

Council at its April 14 meeting authorized Tina Rongers, the town’s grant consultant, to apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets program for a $180,000 grant. If the town was successful in obtaining the grant, it could help with traffic safety issues at the railroad crossings.

“Given the significant impact that Senate Bill 1 may have on funding priorities and the lack of clarity surrounding its impact on next year’s budget, it is prudent to pause activities on this grant until more definitive information becomes available,” said Councilwoman Erin Collins, D-2nd.

Councilman James Ton, R-Dist. 1, concurred that the suspension was a “wise move” at this time.

Council also:

Approved an agreement with Porter County to share in the repaving costs for Babcock Road from County Road 1050 N to the Gulfview subdivision. Chesterton will pay $79,824.10 of the total $167,180.40 cost.

Heard a request from Justine Carlotta for a wildlife crossing sign on South Calumet Road between Westchester and Jefferson avenues. She said there is a “wildlife corridor” on the road for beavers, ducks, possums and deer that live in the nearby woods. She said that last week, a duck was fatally struck by a truck. The council referred the matter to the Street Department to investigate.

Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.