Former Michigan City mayor wins planning award

By Keith Benman keith.benman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3326 | Posted: Sunday, April 22, 2012 6:45 pm

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission has honored former Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie with its Norman E. Tufford Award for outstanding service to NIRPC and the region.

"It is appropriate that we honor Chuck Oberlie as our first commissioner to receive the award," said NIRPC Chairman Geof Benson at last week's meeting. "He recognizes the value NIRPC brings to his municipality and the region, and he has made a substantial commitment of his time and leadership skills to the accomplishment of our mission."

The Tufford Award was established last year to recognize commissioners and staff of the agency who demonstrate outstanding leadership and service to NIRPC and the region.

Tufford was the founding executive director of NIRPC, who served from 1966 until his retirement in 1985. He established the commission's planning program, as well as overseeing the formation of the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission, the Kankakee River Development Commission, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District and the Lake Michigan Marina Development Commission.

"Norm Tufford was widely recognized for his strong leadership and partnership-building skills and his commitment to improving the quality of life in Northwest Indiana," said John Swanson, NIRPC's current executive director.

The first Tufford Award was bestowed posthumously on Norman E. Tufford at NIRPC's January meeting and was accepted by his son, Jim Tufford.

In presenting the award to Oberlie, Benson cited the former mayor's outstanding record of service to the agency during his eight-year term as a NIRPC commissioner.

In addition to serving as the commission's chairman, Oberlie went on to serve as the chair of the Environmental Management Policy Committee and the 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan Steering Committee. Oberlie continues to serve on the Pathway to 2040 Implementation Committee.

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Former mayor honored by regional planning commission

Staff Reports
Published: Monday, April 23, 2012 5:06 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — Former Michigan City Mayor Charles “Chuck” Oberlie received the Norman E. Tufford Award presented by the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) on April 19.

The first such award was given out posthumously in January to Norman E. Tufford, for whom the award was named. Oberlie is the second recipient of the award.

The NIRPC established the Tufford Award in April 2011 to recognize commissioners and staff of the agency who demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to NIRPC and the region.

Tufford was the founding executive director of NIRPC, who served from 1966 until his retirement in 1985. His accomplishments included the establishment of NIRPC’s highly regarded planning program, as well as the formation of the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission, the Kankakee River Development Commission, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District and the Lake Michigan Marina Development Commission.

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“Norm Tufford was widely recognized for his strong leadership and partnership-building skills and his commitment to improving the quality of life in northwest Indiana,” said John Swanson, NIRPC’s current executive director.

In presenting the award to Oberlie, NIRPC Chair and Beverly Shores Town Council President Geof Benson cited Oberlie’s outstanding record of service to the agency during his eight-year term as a NIRPC commissioner.

In addition to serving as the chairman of the commission, Oberlie went on to serve as the Chair of both the Environmental Management Policy Committee and the 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan Steering Committee. After the adoption of the 2040 Plan, Oberlievolunteered to continue to serve on the Pathway to 2040 Implementation Committee in his new role as a private citizen.

“It is appropriate that we honor Chuck Oberlie as our first commissioner to receive the award,” commented Benson, “as he recognizes the value NIRPC brings to his municipality and the region, and he has made a substantial commitment of his time and leadership skills to the accomplishment of our mission.”

Under the guidelines established for the Tufford Award program, a committee comprised of NIRPC’s chair and executive director and a regional citizen meet each year to determine whether to give out the award to a commissioner and/or staff member who demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to NIRPC and northwest Indiana. In addition to individual plaques, Benson unveiled a master plaque with engraved name plates for each of the recipients, which will be maintained in the lobby of NIRPC’s office.

Really? What has he "planned" for. The only award Oberlie should win is the "study" award.