The Munster NWI Times reported here yesterday that "Porter County's commissioners on Tuesday gave their support to the hiring of an Indianapolis firm to help prepare the county's case against the proposed landfill in Porter Township." More:
According to Planner Robert Thompson, who brought the proposal before the commissioners during their regular meeting Tuesday, the firm, Sommer Barnard Ackerson, is reported to be experienced in landfill litigation.A story published today in the Munster Times reports that "The ongoing legal warfare between the landfill firm of Porter Development LLC and Burns Harbor-based Eagle Services Corp. has ensnared a prominent area law firm, Hoeppner Wagner and Evans."The law firm is expected to review the original proceedings before the Porter County Board of Zoning Appeals, which eventually denied the required special exemption to the landfill developer, Porter Development LLC. The firm's attorneys will consult with BZA attorney Lily Schaefer on matters before the trial court and any potential appellate proceedings.
According to the firm's proposal, the county could incur costs of $10,000 to $15,000 for the trial court phase and between $15,000 and $30,000 for a potential appeal. Hourly rates for the two attorneys are $350 for Robert Clark and $300 for Scott Alexander.
At last accounting, landfill litigation has cost the county about $16,000 so far. It's unclear what the county has spent on a second lawsuit launched by Porter Development in connection with a proposed waste transfer station just outside Valparaiso city limits.
The Muncie Star Press reports here today on the use of brownfeilds funds in East Central Indiana.
"An expired environmental permit won't keep Bremen Technologies from operating, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management announced in a statement this week." That is the lead to this story published Jan. 30, 2004 in the South Bend Tribune.
Posted by Marcia Oddi at February 5, 2004 10:05 AM