(La Porte, IN) - The 39 North Conservancy District is fighting back.

 

For a while now, the city of La Porte has been trying to build enough support from property owners in the district to annex that area. A letter from 39 North Conservancy District President Mark Childress was sent to residents and business owners, revealing that $6.9 million dollars was invested in infrastructure by district property owners to retire a 20-year bond issue two years early.

 

“I made clear to the mayor and city attorney that any annexation needs to be accompanied by an offer by the city to buy out our system, which is now debt-free and revenue generating,” Childress stated in the letter.

 

Childress said any money from a buyout could be distributed based on a formula to district property owners in the form of discounted taxes or free water and sewer service from the city for a certain period of time. Unless there is a buyout, Childress said he will not agree to an annexation.

 

In the letter, he said the city must also agree to two other stipulations to gain his support.

 

They are assurance in writing that taxes and utility fees will not increase and provide a fiscal plan for delivering city services to the district in one to three years as required by state statute. governing annexation. 

 

He also emphasized that “there is no current documented public health or safety threat and our system is currently serving all customers with safe, affordable water and efficient sewer service.”

 

“I simply urge patience and careful study before any property owner signs a petition, consent or waiver for annexation until we see the actual details in writing of what this annexation will mean to all district property owners,” he said.