
LaPorte City Hall
LAPORTE — The city of La Porte now has a tool aimed at making annexation more of a possibility.
The LaPorte City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance requiring property owners not in the city limits to agree to be annexed if they want to be connected to municipal water and sewer service.
Their right to fight any annexation effort would be given up by signing a 15-year waiver.
Annexation would also provide land for more housing and industrial development in a city with little available ground on which to build.
The measure is one of the strategies for increasing the city’s population at just over 20,000 for several decades to 30,000 by 2030.
“This is something that’s necessary for our community to grow,” said Mayor Tom Dermody.
Center Township Trustee Lisa Pierzakowski said she fears being forced to sign the waiver if her well or septic system ever failed and she needs city water and sewer.
“I really don’t want to be annexed into the city. I don’t feel the city would be able to take care of my area when they have their hands full with the city right now,” she said.
Dermody said any homeowner becoming part of the city would likely not see an increase in property taxes because of the impact of statewide property tax caps imposed by the legislature several years ago.
In exchange, he said those residents would also receive municipal water, sewer, police and fire protection.
Dermody said the waiver is also good for existing property owners wanting to be annexed right now to have access city water and sewer.
Until now, those residents could not be connected because of a 2016 ordinance prohibiting utilities from being extended outside the city limits.
The ban was imposed to encourage growth in the city.
LaPorte City Attorney Nick Otis said waivers should make it easier to expand the city boundaries.
He said voluntary support from landowners is a critical factor now in annexation gaining final approval from the state.
“It’s really, really tight now on what needs to be done to make it happen,” he said.
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into LaPorte County Jail
Alec Masterson

Age: 20
Residence: LaPorte
Arrest Date: Feb. 21, 2021
Offense Description: Strangulation; criminal confinement
Class: Felonies
Arresting Agency: LaPorte Police Department
Anthony Sanders

Age: 33
Residence: LaPorte
Arrest Date: Feb. 16, 2021
Offense Description: Unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Danielle Dewitt

Age: 28
Residence: Walkerton
Arrest Date: Feb. 22, 2021
Offense Description: Possession of methamphetamine; identity deception
Class: Felonies
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Dustin Hine

Age: 34
Residence: LaPorte
Arrest Date: Feb. 22, 2021
Offense Description: Unlawful possession of syringe
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: LaPorte Police Department
Edward Campion IV

Age: 33
Residence: Michigan City
Arrest Date: Feb. 16, 2021
Offense Description: Residential entry; domestic battery
Class: Felonies
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Jessica Beans

Age: 31
Residence: Evansville, IN
Arrest Date: Feb. 18, 2021
Offense Description: Dealing in cocaine
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Jordan Watkins

Age: 27
Residence: LaPorte
Arrest Date: Feb. 17, 2021
Offense Description: Domestic battery
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: LaPorte Police Department
Joshua Gidley

Age: 31
Residence: LaPorte
Arrest Date: Feb. 17, 2021
Offense Description: Operating a vehicle as an habitual traffic violator; possession of methamphetamine; unlawful possession of syringe
Class: Felonies
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Joshua Riegert

Age: 39
Residence: LaPorte
Arrest Date: Feb. 17, 2021
Offense Description: Escape
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Keegan Bunker

Age: 22
Residence: Barron, WI
Arrest Date: Feb. 16, 2021
Offense Description: Auto theft
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Department
Kimberly Widelski

Age: 20
Residence: Barron, WI
Arrest Date: Feb. 16, 2021
Offense Description: Auto theft
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: LaPorte Police Department
Latanya Cross

Age: 42
Residence: Gary
Arrest Date: Feb. 21, 2021
Offense Description: OWI
Class: Misdemeanor
Arresting Agency: Indiana State Police
Mark Keen

Age: 38
Residence: LaPorte
Arrest Date: Feb. 16, 2021
Offense Description: Domestic battery
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: LaPorte Police Department
Michael Brewer

Age: 65
Residence: Walkerton, IN
Arrest Date: Feb. 15, 2021
Offense Description: Battery by means of a deadly weapon
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Mykia Mitchell

Age: 31
Residence: Michigan City
Arrest Date: Feb. 20, 2021
Offense Description: Neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Raynard Headd

Age: 57
Residence: Gary
Arrest Date: Feb. 19, 2021
Offense Description: Felon carrying a handgun
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: Indiana State Police
Romell Hickmon

Age: 28
Residence: Michigan City
Arrest Date: Feb. 19, 2021
Offense Description: Domestic battery
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Sherman Berry

Age: 34
Residence: Hamlet
Arrest Date: Feb. 20, 2021
Offense Description: Operating a vehicle as an habitual traffic violator
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: LaPorte Police Department
Terry Edmonds

Age: 62
Residence: Michigan City
Arrest Date: Feb. 17, 2021
Offense Description: Domestic battery; strangulation; criminal confinement
Class: Felonies
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Timothy Thomas

Age: 59
Residence: LaPorte
Arrest Date: Feb. 16, 2021
Offense Description: Resisting law enforcement
Class: Felony
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Wendy Woodruff

Age: 58
Residence: Westville
Arrest Date: Feb. 20, 2021
Offense Description: OWI
Class: Misdemeanor
Arresting Agency: Westville Police Department