Harlan denied town status

ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - Allen County Commissioners voted 2-0 Friday morning that Harlan will not officially become a town.  Commissioners Linda Bloom and Nelson Peters cast their votes after discussing the issue during Friday's legislative session. Commissioner Bill Brown was absent due to a previously scheduled family commitment.

People in support of the idea filed a petition in December.  County commissioners then held a public hearing in February.

Friday morning, they decided Harlan does not meet the six criteria needed to become incorporated:

Included among the criteria is:
· The proposed town is reasonably compact and contiguous
· The proposed town includes enough territory to allow for reasonable growth in the foreseeable future
· The proposed town could finance proposed municipal services with a reasonable tax rate, using the current assessed valuation of properties as a basis for calculation
· Incorporation is in the best interest of the territory involved

The Commissioners said they did not receive substantial support from property owners for the petition and did not think a strong plan was in place for the extra revenue that would be generated from being incorporated.

"We'll be meeting with them to hopefully give them more direction and if they choose to do this we can do it the right way," said Linda Bloom, (R) Allen County Commissioner.

The involuntary group from Harlan that put together the incorporation plan said it used the information it was given. The group said Harlan is in need of new sidewalks and street lights.

"We tried to resource the people who could help us with information they all shrugged their shoulders and handed us the Indiana code and said go for it," said Sharon Gustin, Harlan resident in support of incorporation.

According to the statute, a petition for incorporation that is denied may not be resubmitted within one year after the date of final denial. Gustin said she's not sure if her group can do it again because of money.