The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) recognized a former staff member for outstanding service to the region, welcomed new officers and commissioners, and presented its 2021 Annual Report at the January 20 meeting of the NIRPC Commission.
Steve Strains received NIRPC’s Norman Tufford Award, given for “exceptional dedication and service to NIRPC.” Former NIRPC Executive Director John Swanson introduced Strains during the presentation of the award. “Steve felt strongly about making this region a better place for all of us to live, work and play,” said Swanson in his introduction.
Strains is the most tenured staff person in the history of NIRPC, serving the agency for over 40 years until his retirement in 2016. He served as both Director of Planning and Deputy Director under Swanson, roles that continued under current Executive Director Ty Warner when Swanson himself retired at the end of 2012.
The Norman Tufford Award is named for NIRPC’s first executive director, who served NIRPC from 1966 through his retirement in 1985, when Tufford was succeeded by Jim Ranfranz. The honor recognizes NIRPC commissioners and staff who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the region. Strains began his career as an intern under Tufford in the 1970s.
“It is quite fitting that this year’s Tufford Award for outstanding service to NIRPC and the region goes to one of Norm’s best hires,” Swanson said.
Also during the meeting, Justin Kiel, Town Council President of La Crosse, was elected as Chair of the Commission for 2022. Kiel succeeds George Topoll, Union Township Trustee, who chaired the Commission in 2021.
“I want to take a moment to recognize the work of our two previous chairmen, George Topoll and Michael Griffin,” Kiel said in his remarks. “They had the unenviable task of guiding this body through this pandemic and they really deserve our appreciation for rising to that challenge.”
Kiel stated among his goals for 2022 were to “strengthen the networking and collaborative opportunities that NIRPC has to offer its members” and to “build new revenue streams to support NIRPC’s existing mission and to make possible new objectives.”
“It’s the effort that we collectively put behind these goals that will make them happen,” Kiel said. "I’m energized and eager for us to do more, to be more, for our communities and for our region.”
The new slate of NIRPC Officers elected for 2022 were: Vice-Chair, Richard Hardaway, Town of Merrillville; Secretary, Greg Stinson, Town of Porter; and Treasurer, Tom Dermody, Mayor of La Porte.
Elected to the Executive Board representing Lake County were Wendy Mis, Clerk-Treasurer of Munster, and Bill Emerson, Jr., Lake County Surveyor. Executive Board members elected to represent La Porte County were Sheila Matias, La Porte County Commission, and Lori Mercer, Town of Westville. Porter County representatives elected to the Executive Board members were Sue Lynch, Mayor of Portage, and Jim Ton, Town of Chesterton.
Representative Jim Pressel fills the Governor’s Appointment. George Topoll, Union Township, became Immediate Past Chair upon the slate’s election.
Commissioners welcomed three new members: Mike Jesson, Porter County Councilman; Scott Kingan, Town Council, Ogden Dunes; and Angie Scott, Council President, Burns Harbor. Commissioners must be elected officials and are appointed by their respective governing bodies.
NIRPC also released its 2021 Annual Report at the Thursday meeting. The report, highlighting NIRPC’s activities over the past year, will be available online at www.nirpc.org.
NIRPC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Council of Governments for Lake, Porter, and La Porte counties in Northwest Indiana. Working collaboratively across the region, NIRPC coordinates regional comprehensive planning and programming for transportation, economic development, and environmental policy.
NIRPC Officers for 2022. From Left to Right: George Topoll, Immediate Past Chair; Justin Kiel, Chair; Richard Hardaway, Vice-Chair; Greg Stinson, Secretary. Not pictured: Tom Dermody, Treasurer.
Presentation of Norm Tufford Award. From Left to Right: Ty Warner, NIRPC Executive Director; Steve Strains, former NIRPC staff member, Tufford Award recipient; George Topoll, Immediate Past Chair.
Exchange of gavel. Pictured from left to right: Michael Griffin, Clerk-Treasurer, Highland, NIRPC Chair in 2020; George Topoll, Union Township Trustee, NIRPC Chair in 2021; Justin Kiel, Town Council President, La Crosse, NIRPC Chair for 2022.
