(La Porte, IN) - Residents and business owners along a stretch of Indiana 39 can expect to see police and other city service vehicles in and around their neighborhoods very soon. That’s according to La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody, who says that the city's annexation of the 39 North Conservancy District became official on March 11th after years of effort.

 

According to state law, the city has one year from the effective date to provide non-capital services. However, Dermody said services such as police and fire coverage, street maintenance, TransPorte pick-ups/drop-offs, and code enforcement will begin for these new residents on April 1st.

 

“It is important to our team that we try and make the transition for residents and businesses in this area into the city as smooth as possible. One way to do this is by providing the services we promised throughout this process without any delays. For this reason, we are committed to providing any services we can immediately,” he said.

 

Utility and trash billing updates for the newly annexed area will begin at a later date because billing updates can’t occur until contracts with service providers and ordinances have been amended.

 

Dermody also noted that work continues on capital improvement projects, such as larger water lines to replace existing ones promised by the city to improve fire protection. The water line upgrades will also open the conservancy district to more future development. Currently, additional development cannot occur because of the inability of the existing lines to service new water customers.

 

“Planning is well underway for the water infrastructure improvements we have promised for this area. We continue to work cooperatively with the 39 North Conservancy Board led by Mark Childress and will use this progress as a springboard into the significant infrastructure investments we have committed to along 39 North,” Dermody said.

 

More information regarding the transition of utilities, along with updates on the status of capital projects for water and sewer, will be available at upcoming New Resident Welcome Meetings slated for the end of June.

 

Meeting dates and other details will be shared in the coming weeks.  Anyone with questions can contact the mayor’s office at 219-362-0151.