(Michigan City, IN) - Michigan City could soon have fewer elected officials under a measure proposed in the state legislature that would lower the city's status.

 

A proposal at the state level intends to downgrade Michigan City from a second class city, to a third class city, based on the population, which is now estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau at more than 32,000. The population of Michigan City was once nearly 40,000 in 1970.

 

If the bill is adopted, the number of city council members in Michigan City would be reduced from nine to seven. The position of city controller would also be eliminated with those duties being absorbed by the current city clerk, who would become clerk-treasurer. 

 

During Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Councilman Don Przybylinski was obviously bothered by the proposal.

 

“When I heard of this, I was just dismayed. What is this all about?  Is there not bigger issues in the city of Michigan City or the state of Indiana?,” he said.

 

The bill was submitted by State Senator Mike Bohacek, a Republican from Michiana Shores. Przybylinski ordered Bohacek to be asked in writing to appear at the next city council meeting on February 4 to explain his reason for proposing the measure and potential impact on the community. If the measure passes, Przybylinski said the change would go into effect in 2027.

 

The bill calls for a second class city to be converted to third class status if their population is less than 31,500 for two consecutive censuses, which are conducted nationwide every 10 years. 

 

Currently, the number of residents in Michigan City is above that figure. However, the city would still be downgraded because the population of Indiana State Prison, under the bill, would be subtracted from the 2020 census count.  

 

The prison, historically, has had slightly above 2,000 inmates. The prison will close and relocate to the new combined prisons going up in Westville once the ongoing construction is completed in roughly two years.