One of the biggest surprises – and announcements – from Mayor Tom Henry’s State of the City address had little to do with city government at all.It appears it will be at least another year before Harlan can become a town.
The Allen County commissioners will vote on incorporation Friday, but all three Monday expressed concerns about making it a municipality.
“I don’t know how we can support it,” Commissioner Bill Brown said.
At issue is whether the request to incorporate the northeast Allen County community meets the state’s rules. Brown especially was concerned about the requirement that “a substantial majority of property owners” support the effort. Public comment from the community has been mixed with slightly more people opposing it at the commissioners’ public hearings.
“I don’t think they even have a majority,” Brown said.
The rural community along Indiana 37 in Springfield Township is part of unincorporated Allen County, and the county commissioners serve as the local government for residents. Town limits would extend from Notestine Road to the southwest to Bull Rapids Road and Indiana 37 in the northeast.
If approved, the town would provide police, fire, health protection, streetlights and street maintenance, planning and parks. To pay for those services, owners of homes worth $100,000 could see their property tax bills increase $302 annually, according to updated estimates. In 2009, the owner of a $100,000 home in Springfield Township paid $507 – money that went to the township, school district, county, library and airport.
Those increased taxes also raised a concern for Commissioner Nelson Peters because the state rules require the incorporation to be in the best interest for the territory involved. He questioned what additional services Harlan would get by becoming a town, noting it would likely contract with the county for its police, planning and street services anyway, at a 20 percent markup.
“You’re going to get essentially the same services,” he said.
Peters said while the petition meets some of the state requirements, it does not meet all of them. Commissioner Linda Bloom also said she has concerns.
If the commissioners reject the petition, supporters of making Harlan a town would have to wait a year to start the process again.
Peters said a year’s delay might give them time to better organize support for the plan.
