BURNS HARBOR | The Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission on Wednesday night discussed an anonymous letter that circulated in the community during the day. That letter asked residents to attend the evening's meeting to oppose a "master plan" that would supposedly invoke eminent domain laws to seize residents' homes.

That false accusation prompted anger from commission members and a lesson in municipal government.

"That type of literature going around town is unacceptable. Three hours ago when I first saw this letter, I was ready to run that author out of town," commission member James McGee said to the packed room of residents.

Residents spoke about receiving the letter at their home Wednesday morning but said they did not know who authored the letter.

"The person who authored this letter made an error in judgment by not taking ownership and signing their name, and further made an error by not talking to the council and department heads first. But the silver lining here is that you came to this meeting and now you can help this town and its representatives set the record straight," Burns Harbor Attorney Robert Welsh said.

The letter may have been prompted, residents speculated, by recent plans to demolish vacant truck stops in the town to prepare for economic development of blighted land.

The council also authorized purchase of three diving masks for the Fire Department at a cost of $6,705. The high-tech masks allow the town's dive team to communicate through the masks.

The dive team currently borrows three masks owned by a resident, or dives without radio communication.

Burns Harbor Fire Chief Bill Arney told the council the new firetruck went into service four hours before the meeting. He thanked the council for the new truck and said his department will host an official celebration with members and employees when the weather warms.