Long-time Burns Harbor Councilman Nick Loving will take on a new assignment as the town’s clerk-treasurer.
Porter County Democratic Party Chair Don Craft announced Wednesday that he is appointing Loving to the job. He is empowered to make the appointment as Burns Harbor only has one voter precinct.
The appointment was made in consultation with Burns Harbor council members.
Craft chose Loving over Toni Biancardi, who formerly served for nine years as a Burns Harbor Councilwoman. Biancardi is a Republican.
Loving, 43, said he hopes to bring a fresh approach to the job.
“I will work on modernizing some of the processes we have in place,” Loving said, regarding the clerk-treasurer operations.
Loving also acknowledges that there had been conflicts between prior clerk-treasurers and the council.
“I am committed to working with the council to make sure the office for clerk-treasurer is serving the people of Burns Harbor,” Loving said.
Loving succeeds Nicole Migliorini, who resigned on May 14 after serving less than a year on the job. Loving complimented Migliorini for her commendable job performance.
Migliorini cited a “toxic” work environment as her reason for leaving. The Town Council had rejected her request to hire an additional full-time assistant.
It was the second time within a year that a clerk-treasurer had suddenly resigned.
Jane Jordan, who had served for 20 years as the town’s clerk-treasurer, resigned on May 8, 2024. She had issues with the Burns Harbor Volunteer Fire Department Corporation concerning public records access and alleged violations of Indiana Code in customer billing for emergency services. She said the Town Council, county and state officials wouldn’t address her concerns.
Jordan considered a possible return to her old job. She is considered an expert by the state of Indiana as she has been employed to teach at seminars for clerk-treasurers.
However, Jordan was drawing a pension from the state and the town would have been prohibited from contributing 11.2% of her salary toward the pension fund.
Jordan asked the council to consider contributing the 11.2% toward her salary, noting that she has seven advanced certifications for the clerk-treasurer job.
There wasn’t enough support on the council for her request and Jordan withdrew as a candidate.
Loving rejoined the Town Council last June when he was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Kurt Jordan – Jane’s husband, who resigned with her at the same time.
Before that, Loving had served on the Burns Harbor Town Council from 2016 to 2024. He chose not to run for re-election in 2023 but decided to rejoin the council when he was appointed last June.
Craft said that he will accept applications from Democrats to fill the council position vacated by Loving.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.