VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – City Council members did not take action to approve rezoning the proposed jail site behind the Honey Creek Mall during last weeks July meeting.
Now, residents and elected officials are taking notice.
“The city council needs to okay the property down there behind the old Stu property,” said resident Bill Verdeyen. “They need to make sure that we move forward.”
City Council President Martha Crossen says she wanted to arrange a meeting with all elected officials involved in the jail project.
Two of the three Vigo County Commissioners felt a meeting was unnecessary.
“You would have the same 10, 12, 15 people get up voice their opinions. It would be the same thing,” explained Commissioner Judy Anderson. “We have got to move on with this. We just have to get moving.”
Crossen claims there has yet to be a meeting where officials discuss the budget and public use implications a new jail would have on the city.
“There’s very little interaction between county and city officials,” said resident Andreas Kummeroh. “Especially in a official sort of capacity. They don’t particularly meet.”
Commissioners filed a formal request for the property to be rezoned in June.
A time frame Anderson says should have been enough for council members to reach out with questions or concerns.
“First part of June until now, has had every opportunity to garner all the information that she should need to make a good decision,” said Anderson.
Crossen said the formal request had to be filed in early June in order for it to be on the agenda for the July meeting.
She has also claimed to have met with Commissioner Brad Anderson and seen the drawings for the new jail, however a meeting to go over the budget and implications would be beneficial before a decision is made at the August 1 meeting.
