Hobart officials holding joint meeting on tax abatements on Thursday

HOBART | City officials will meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday at City Hall, 414 Main St., to discuss tax abatements and other incentives.

EDITORIAL: Navigating Porter County's insurance maze

If you're looking for expert advice on controlling health insurance premiums, it makes sense that you would consult an expert. But that's not what Porter County officials did.

Whiting earns award for green initiatives

WHITING | Whiting's environmental efforts have earned the city recognition as Green Community of the Year by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.

Valpo finding ways to reduce employees' insurance costs

VALPARAISO | A public hearing on the city's proposed 2013 budget at Monday's council meeting turned into a presentation of what the administration is doing to try to ease the impact of changes in the employees' health insurance plan.

EDITORIAL: IACT offers salve; state should provide cure

Valparaiso has ditched its self-insurance plan to join the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns plan. It's a good stopgap measure for not just Valparaiso, but other cities as well.

High costs force Valpo to halt self-insurance program

VALPARAISO | After Saturday, the city of Valparaiso will no longer be self-insured.

State senator honored for 911 emergency phone funding reforms

INDIANAPOLIS | State Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Wheatfield, was honored Thursday for his work restructuring funding for 911 emergency telephone service.

EDITORIAL: Respond to tax caps with innovation

Matt Greller, executive director of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, voiced the concerns of many municipalities about tax caps hampering their ability to do business as usual. The tax caps, however, are for taxpayers' protection.

Cities & Towns CEO to address chamber

GARY | Gary Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly general membership luncheon at noon Monday at Steel City Buffet & Grill, 411 E. Fifth Ave. The featured guest speaker will be Matthew C. Greller, executive director and CEO of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.

Whiting works to improve lakefront living

WHITING | Years of preparation to establish Whiting as Lake County's premier lakefront destination community are paying off as many long-range plans are coming to fruition this year.

Skillman suggests route around tax caps for local governments

INDIANAPOLIS | Counties, cities and towns could seek permission to bust the state's property tax caps under a local government reform plan proposed Tuesday by Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman.

BP expansion fuels Whiting renaissance

The city's recent recognition by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns is only the latest in the superlatives that others are heaping on this lakefront community on the go.

BP expansion fuels Whiting renaissance

WHITING | The city's recent recognition by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns is only the latest in the superlatives that others are heaping on this lakefront community. IACT in October named Whiting its Green Community of the Year and also handed the city its State Community Achiev…

Water audit earns Valpo IACT award

VALPARAISO | Looking for leaky pipes isn't likely to earn anyone a Nobel Prize, but the city's water audit was recognized recently with a Community Achievement Award from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.

5 communities make strong showing at IACT conference

INDIANAPOLIS | Northwest Indiana communities made a strong showing Monday at the 2011 Indiana Association of Cities and Towns Conference.

Ballpark hits home run with Cities and Towns

WHITING | The city has earned state honors for its new baseball field at Standard Diamonds Park.

BRIAN HOWEY: General Assembly acting as Indiana's Super City Council

Most Hoosiers living in cities and towns believe their mayors and council members create their local ordinances. But the 2011 Indiana General Assembly has been on a rampage against "home rule." It goes far beyond the plea of cities for local taxing options in this era of crimping property tax caps.

BRIAN HOWEY: Long fuse on Daniels' decision on presidential bid

The past several Mondays have been blue for those of you seeking a Mitch Daniels presidential campaign.

Daniels calls for end of nepotism in government hiring

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mitch Daniels told a gathering of local government officials Tuesday that Indiana must do away with local government nepotism once and for all.

Mayor Velazquez receives gold award from IACT – IU/SPEA Mayors Institute

PORTAGE | Mayor Olga Velazquez was awarded a Gold Certificate as an Indiana City Leadership Ambassador from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) -IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs (IU SPEA) Mayors Institute.