Sullivan moves forward with annexation

SULLIVAN, Ind. (WTHI) - A Wabash Valley city moved forward with plans to annex surrounding parts of the county Tuesday night.

Tuesday night was decision night for the city of Sullivan to add more than 1,100 acres to the city limits.

The annexation vote sat front and center on the city council's docket Tuesday night. Before dealing with any other business, the city moved forward into uncharted territories; voting 4 to 1 in favor of both annexation ordinances.

"This is something that has been talked about by every administration since 1959,” Mayor Clint Lamb said Tuesday.

But not until his push this year had the idea of doubling the size of Sullivan city come as far as the vote Tuesday night in front of the city council.

Before the meeting Mayor Lamb felt optimistic about his chances in getting the votes for annexation.

"I hope the city council steps up, I hope they back me I hope they support me. I hope they stand up for the 4,300 people that sent them here to do their job,” he said.

The mayor's proposed plan brings in sections north, west and south of town into the city limits. Areas he says already receive the benefits of city water, sewage, and emergency protection without the city taxes.

That's what brought many of these residents from outside the city limits to the meeting.

For folks like Tommy Harrison, who runs a saw mill business on the north side of town, he says his business will be hit hard by the new taxes they'll pay.

"There's not real benefit to us. It's an increase in several thousand dollars in taxes. They claim that you get some benefits of water and sewer, but they're not running water and sewer up that far," Harrison said.

As the council prepared to vote, the citizens opposed made their voices heard, demanding a chance to speak before the final vote.

But the council and mayor explained that the public hearing and individual meetings in the months prior had been their chance to do so. In two separate votes, the city council voted 4 to 1 both times to annex the northwest section outside the city and the south side.

Residents and businesses in the annexed area have 90 days to file a remonstrance against the city's plan.