By Abby Lietz, Herald Journal reporter
It was a tough decision, but somebody had to make it.
White County Commissioners, by a vote of 2 to 1, voted Monday morning to petition the United States Department of Transportation requesting the county be included in the Central time zone when daylight-saving time kicks in next year.
Commissioner Bud Ferguson voted against the motion.
The decision is one that will likely divide the county, based on public responses gathered by the commissioners.
The majority of comments from two dozen citizens who spoke during public hearings last week favored Central time, noted commissioner John Heimlich, while those who voiced their preference via e-mail largely favored Eastern.
White County fits into a unique piece of the time zone puzzle with each of its corners influenced by differing outside sources. To find a satisfactory solution for all is virtually impossible, said commissioner Steve Burton.
“For every person who wants Central, there’s another person wanting Eastern. Like I said before, where you stand dictates which you’d like to see. We’re so balanced in opinion; I don’t know that there’s 100 percent for either direction.”
Harold Fritz, Monticello, who favors Central time, said the decision was the right one to make but that counties should not have had to shoulder the full burden of the time zone debate.
“I do believe our community goes more toward Chicago, but I think the best results would have come if the state had taken some action. In the end there’s still 24 hours in a day,” he said.
Significant consideration in determining which way to go was given to the tourism industry, whose representatives had remained vocal in touting the advantages of Central time throughout the hearing and public comment process.
Heimlich also noted concerns about daylight for school children getting on busses in the morning contributed to his personal inclination for the Central time zone.
Consideration was then given to the fact that several surrounding counties, including Cass, Carroll and Pulaski, have indicated they will petition for Central time; Tippecanoe County has opted to go with Eastern.
“That would weigh heaviest in trying to decide,” said Burton just before the vote.
But some county residents who find themselves closely tied to Tippecanoe County may have to make more adjustments than just what their clocks display.
Willis Johnson, who owns and operates Johnson’s Machine Shop and Wrecker Service, Brookston, said a large portion of his business is done in Tippecanoe County and split time zones will make his job more complicated.
© 2005 The Herald Journal