Fort Wayne’s careful financial planning has put it in a position for growth and success, according to its chief executive.The Allen County commissioners want to be a part of Huntertown.
On Friday, the commissioners unanimously approved a petition asking Huntertown to annex county-owned land at Carroll and Lima Roads.
The town’s southern limits skirt around the county’s land and the neighboring fairgrounds.
Annexing the county property – home to Byron Health Center, a highway barn and sheriff’s offices – would smooth that boundary line, Town Council President Jim Fortman said.
“It’s going to be good for the town, good for the county,” Fortman said.
The Town Council could begin the formal process of accepting the county property as soon as Tuesday, he said.
Under a previous agreement, Fort Wayne agreed not to annex north of Carroll Road and Huntertown agreed not to annex south of that road, which is the current dividing line.
County officials always expected that meant their property would someday be annexed into Huntertown, Commissioner Linda Bloom said.
County attorney Bill Fishering said the annexation would keep the highway barn in an area it serves and clarify whether Fort Wayne could annex the property.
The big benefit for Huntertown, however, is that any future development by private industry on the property would send its tax dollars to Huntertown, Fortman said.
The commissioners have begun investigating how that property could best be used but have no current plans to vacate or sell the land.
Two storage buildings were recently built and additional improvements have been made to a sheriff’s office.
