(Michigan City, IN) - The new mayor of Michigan City seems to have wrapped her arms around everything she feels will help better serve residents and assist with the transformation of the community projected by quicker travel to and from Chicago by train.
During her State of the City speech Wednesday, Angie Nelson Deuitch called herself a “cheerleader for Michigan City," wanting her administration ready to respond favorably in areas ranging from daily trash pickup to the major growth expected soon in a city with 41 percent of its residents living in poverty.
Deuitch said she’s been reaching out to the city council, department heads, and citizens to help create a team approach to running a more effective, efficient, and responsive local government during her first 100 days in office.
“I can’t do this alone,” she said.
Deuitch said her plan includes outreach with city employees taking part in activities like friendly competitions out in the community. Recently, the park department was the winner in collecting more than 900 food items, or about one-third of what the city collected to help provide for the hungry.
Deuitch said she is also not leaving any stones unturned in the search for outside sources of revenue to help pay for public matters like repairing streets, more access to high-speed internet, workforce development, and the building of a community center. She explained how several grants have already been obtained by her administration, while millions of dollars in additional grants are being sought for other needs such as the construction of affordable housing for teachers. $5 million set aside for road paving this year is being funded partially with grants in turn.
Some of the grants were awarded with help from state and federal officials she had contact with during her two separate terms on the city council and employment with NIPSCO.
“Relationships matter when you’re begging for money “I’m a beggar of money. I have no problem saying that. I’ll ask everybody for money,” she said.
Other goals outlined during her speech included having one location for help in finding employment, food assistance, and other social services.
“If we elevate all parts of town, all of Michigan City will be successful,” she said.
Deuitch also revealed code enforcement has become more aggressive in trying to get buildings repaired and junk vehicles out of neighborhoods, with over 80 tickets worth more than $23,000 in fines handed out in the first three months of the year alone.
The Michigan City mayor also expressed a desire to have more cultural events to help serve the visitors and projected new residents once construction of the second South Shore Commuter rail line between Michigan City and Gary is completed next month. In turn, construction recently started on a 12-story apartment tower at the new train station located at 11th and Franklin Streets. Utilities were just relocated to make way for building two similar-sized structures that will mostly contain a boutique hotel and luxury condominiums along U.S. 12 next to City Hall.
“This is a big deal that people are willing to invest like this in Michigan City,” she said.
City Councilman Bryant Dabney said improved morale among city employees is one of the biggest changes brought so far by the new mayor, along with staff members being more involved in the community. He also noted how her almost non-stop pursuit of grant money is also noticeably different from previous years.
“She is just more active in terms of talking to our state representatives, federal representatives in order to bring funding into Michigan City, so that is a very good thing for us moving forward,” Dabney said.
City Council President Don Przybylinski agreed with Dabney on the biggest impacts the mayor has had since taking office on January 1st.
“It’s been a major change,” he said.
Over 100 people attended the speech at the Holdcraft Performing Arts Center, which is inside the former Elston High School.
