By MIKE LEWIS, Times-Mail
BEDFORD - Lawrence County has joined at least 16 other Indiana counties in asking for a time change.
The commissioners sent a letter to the federal government Thursday asking for a switch from the Eastern Time Zone to Central time. Today was the deadline to submit such requests.
The U.S. Department of Transportation will make the final decision. The department could choose, but is not required, to conduct hearings in Indiana prior to making a decision.
"This has sort of been confusing," said Janie Craig Chenault, president of the Lawrence County Commissioners. "We discussed it in commissioner meetings, but we did not take a formal vote. We had always agreed we should be in the Central Time Zone."
Being in the Central Time Zone would put the county on the same time as Chicago. Now the county is on the same time as New York for much of the year.
Chenault said that, as she understands the process, counties that did not want to change did not have to submit letters. By asking for a change, she said, it is more likely that the federal government will conduct public hearings.
"Actually, all we've tried to do is allow our people to have a voice rather than sit and do nothing," she said.
She also said that many residents favor Central time. One letter to the commissioners, she said, pointed out that all of Indiana is technically within the Central Time Zone, but counties observe different times.
Commissioner David Flinn said he prefers Central time because it would allow for more daylight during early morning hours.
"I drive a school bus. ... It's just so dark in some of those turn-arounds," he said.
Commissioner Bill Spreen, in an Associated Press article, echoed Chenault's words that the commissioners were trying to get the federal government to conduct hearings. If most people favored Eastern time, he said, then officials would ask to remain on Eastern time.
Lawrence joins several other southern Indiana counties in asking for the change.
The Martin County Commissioners conducted two public meetings then voted Tuesday to ask for a switch to Central time.
Other counties in southwestern Indiana seeking the switch are Daviess, Dubois, Knox, Perry and Pike.
The Orange County Commissioners Thursday voted to stick with Eastern time.
Officials in Allen County (Fort Wayne) and Marion County (Indianapolis) have decided against seeking a change to Central time. Other counties in those areas have followed suit, according to the Associated Press.
Monroe County officials were expected to vote today to follow Marion County's preference.