2 Porter council members lauded after election losses

With words of praise for his leadership and mentorship, the Porter County Council on Tuesday lauded Councilman Dan Whitten, D-At large, for his 16 years of service to the county.

Whitten, who was unsuccessful in his bid for a fifth term in the general election, served as president for around 11 years while on the council and was instrumental in establishing the county’s nonprofit foundation from the 2007 sale of the county hospital, which he has repeatedly said made Porter County the most solvent county in the state.

County attorney Scott McC l u re, w h o p rev i o u s l y worked with Whitten when he was the council attorney, said Whitten helped him understand “a lot of the nitty gritty on how the funds work.”

“It’s slightly overwhelming what the council deals with on a regular basis,” McClure said. “You guys are losing more experience than you can imagine.”

Council President Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, said the county is in great shape because of Whitten’s leadership over the years, and added the council and taxpayers should appreciate what he’s done.

“It’s been a great ride with Dan. He’s done a lot for the county,” Rivas said.

Councilwoman Sylvia Graham, D-At large, credited Whitten for creating the foundation and for mentoring her when she first got on the council.

“Dan took me under his wing and taught me what everything was about. He did a lot of good,” she said.

Councilman Mike Jessen, R-4th, who has served six years on the council, said Whitten and Councilman Jeff Larson, R-At large, who also was honored for his four years on the council, both understood their roles in public service.

“We should be public servants, and I believe both Dan and Jeff performed that very, very well,” Jessen said, adding both put partisan politics aside to focus on the needs of the county’s 170,000 residents, “and it’s our job to facilitate that.”

Larson said it had been a pleasure serving on the county, which had done a remarkable job during a difficult year.

“I think we have one of the best counties in the state in terms of leadership,” he said, adding of Whitten, “The knowledge he brings to the table is going to be sorely missed.”

Larson lost a bid for reelection during the primary in June.

“I had a lot of fun working with you guys. We faced some challenges and overcame them. I’m going to miss working with you,” Whitten said, adding his time on the council concluded another chapter in his life of public service, which also has included serving in the U.S. Army and working as a police officer.

“This has been a good one for me. I’m going to miss it but all good things must come to an end,” he continued.

In other business:

■ Sheriff David Reynolds reported that the county jail hasn’t had a case of COVID-19 since mid-April, but with the current surge in cases, he is working with the prosecutor’s office and probation department and expects arrests to go down for nonviolent violation of probation.

“It’s a major decision made that won’t affect public safety but will affect operations at the jail,” he said.

■ After hearing last month about a spike in suicides from Coroner Cyndi Dykes, Councilman Greg Simms, D-3rd, started a 10-person task force to examine the problem.

The first meeting generated interest in donations for a brochure about mental health resources; discussion about fostering out animals at the shelter to combat loneliness; and funds available through Porter-Starke for outreach to veterans.

“If we can stop one person from hurting themselves, it’s worth it,” Simms said.

■ The council approved a $10,000 fund transfer for tree removal at Zona Wildlife Sanctuary in Jackson Township, and Parks Superintendent Walter Lenckos said that earlier Tuesday, the Board of Commissioners had approved a measure to formally transfer the sanctuary from the commissioners to the park board.

The department hired a contractor to clear dead trees and hopes to replace a damaged bridge by the end of the year, at which point gates to the sanctuary can be unlocked. The sanctuary also will be included in the department’s master plan.

■ McClure told the council that an approved fund transfer is being used to pay furloughed employees from the Memorial Opera House as they assist in other departments, including the health department, the clerk’s office and facilities maintenance.

“They are filling the gaps so they can be back to their full-time wage on the salary scale,” McClure said.