By Vanessa Renderman, Times of Northwest Indiana
vanessa.renderman@nwi.com
DYER | Local communities have resources available through the state to aid in the consolidation of services, a group of local leaders learned last week.
Details emerged at a community partnership discussion Dyer hosted Wednesday. At least eight Lake County communities were represented at the meeting.
State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, talked about legislation that allows communities to borrow for up to six years to finance an efficiency project of up to $3 million.
"I hope you will look at this legislation as a tool you can use as you move forward in your discussions," she said.
Tom Bredeweg, from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, referred to Indiana Code 36-1.5, which essentially allows communities to create their own local government structure. The law is three or four years old and although it has some exceptions, it is very powerful, he said.
Bredeweg said successful mergers have happened in Indiana, most recently with Zionsville and Union and Eagle townships. Combined, they will form the state's third largest city, he said.
Although total merger likely isn't in the cards for Lake County communities at this point, Schererville Town Manager Bob Volkmann said that, after Wednesday's meeting, he thinks a smaller step -- such as consolidation of dispatch services -- is more feasible.
But some people don't want to consolidate services, because they don't want equipment they've paid for being used by residents in other communities who haven't paid for it. Those opponents need to look at the bigger picture and the greater good for communities in the area, Volkmann said.
Kenneth Murray of Management Partners Inc., a company that has worked nationally to assist communities in consolidations, explained that sharing resources isn't all or nothing.
Levels vary, from basic mutual aid to full consolidation, he said.
"You can use multiple approaches," he said.
St. John Town Manager Steve Kil said sharing resources should be explored, but he cautioned that consolidation is not always the best route. Agencies already are cooperating in many areas, he said.
Volkmann said the momentum needs to continue. Schererville Town Council President Perry Ferrini already offered Schererville to host the next meeting some time after the holidays.