Citizen Portal News Indiana

Visit bureau reports mixed tourism figures, outlines visitor center timeline and major convention leads Staff told the Commission and Visitors Bureau the local lodging market showed gains in January 2026 while short-term rentals lagged; officials outlined a design-build schedule for a new visitor center and touted major convention leads backed by a state grant.

Monroe County's tourism is on a rollercoaster ride, with lodging revenues climbing while short-term rentals take a dive—what's next for the visitor center and major conventions?

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#MonroeCounty #IN #VisitorExperience #CitizenPortal #EconomicDevelopment #MonroeCountyTourism

Louie Spear accuses city and large developments of worsening drainage; LaPorte County board orders inspections At a March 10 LaPorte County Drainage Board meeting, resident Louie Spear said the city and commercial developments have diverted water into a county ditch; the board said it is investigating, ordered inspections and bids for two sinkholes on the claimant's tile, and is coordinating with the state DNR.

Louie Spear claims the city and local developers are flooding his property, and the LaPorte County Drainage Board is stepping in to investigate serious drainage issues.

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#LaPorteCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #WaterManagement

Council reauthorizes bridge fund reappropriations, advances Smith Valley Road work Highway supervisor Luke Masten told the council the Smith Valley Road project is moving into right‑of‑way acquisition; council agreed to reappropriate three years of cash savings, use bond funds first as advised, and approved several bridge appropriations including federal awards toward Bridge 36 and Bridge 63.

Johnson County is gearing up for major improvements with the approval of reappropriations for Smith Valley Road and crucial bridge projects, ensuring safer travel ahead!

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#JohnsonCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #JohnsonCountyRoads

Commissioners approve two AEDs and PulsePoint integration, contribute $20,000 to Heart Safe Porter County Board approved purchase of two 24/7 AED stations (Expo Center and Sunset Hill Park) and software to integrate AED location and PulsePoint notifications with county 9‑1‑1, with commissioners committing $20,000 toward the effort.

Porter County is taking a bold step to save lives with new AEDs and a revolutionary system that alerts trained civilians during cardiac emergencies.

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#PorterCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #EmergencyResponse #PublicSafety #PorterCountyHealth

Commissioners approve first reading of rezoning at US 30 and 600 W; ask for septic and traffic data before second reading Developers seeking to rezone 597 W US 30 from high‑intensity commercial to medium‑intensity commercial won first‑reading approval March 10; commissioners asked for state septic capacity findings and circulation/traffic information before the second reading.

A proposed rezoning at U.S. 30 and County Road 600 W could pave the way for a new convenience store and trade buildings, but crucial septic and traffic data must first clear the path!

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#PorterCounty #IN #PorterCountyCommercial #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #TrafficManagement

Redevelopment Commission approves engineering contracts and funding for street and sidewalk projects The Michigan City Redevelopment Commission on March 9 approved multiple engineering contracts and funding appropriations — including up to $40,000 for Washington Park Boulevard oversight, a $55,000 addendum for 10th Street design, a $40,000 engineering allocation for US 12 sidewalk work, and $5,000 for downtown scoping — all by voice vote.

Big changes are on the horizon for Michigan City as the Redevelopment Commission greenlights funding for vital street and sidewalk upgrades!

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#LaPorteCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #LaPorteCountyCity #CommunityImprovements

MSD Warren Township previews FY27 budget, bus replacement and capital projects ahead of March 24 adoption vote District staff presented the FY27 budget advertisement and spending priorities — including a $14.5 million referendum operating fund advertisement, a $28 million debt service estimate tied to proposed bonds, a five-year bus replacement plan (12 buses in FY27) and a capital projects plan; a full presentation is scheduled March 18 and formal adoption is set for March 24.

MSD Warren Township is gearing up for a significant fiscal year 2027 budget, including a $14.5 million referendum fund and a bold five-year bus replacement plan!

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#IN #CitizenPortal #SchoolSafety #BudgetTransparency

Council approves first reading for Nineveh Fire District bond plan to replace aging station County advisers presented a $4.07 million lease‑rental bond plan for the Nineveh Fire Protection District to replace a 1955 firehouse; the council approved a first reading and will hold a public hearing in April. The financing would run 20 years and is estimated to add about 9.2¢ to the tax rate (about $116/yr on a $250,000 homestead).

Johnson County is taking a big step forward to replace its aging fire station with a $4.07 million bond plan aimed at boosting firefighter safety and operational efficiency!

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#JohnsonCounty #IN #JohnsonCountyFireProtection #CitizenPortal #LocalGovernance #PublicSafety

FWCS board approves laptops, facility assessments, furniture, construction contracts and bond resolutions The board approved multiple procurement and finance actions including purchase of 715 Dell laptops ($548,012.75), a SiteLogic facility assessment contract ($855,872), classroom furniture ($2,715,575.19), several construction contracts and bond resolutions to appropriate GO bond proceeds; votes were taken by voice and approved.

Fort Wayne Community Schools is making big investments in the future with new laptops, classroom furniture, and major facility enhancements approved by the board!

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#IN #CitizenPortal #BudgetAccountability #FortWayneSchools #FacilityImprovements #EducationTechnology

Kosciusko County commissioners approve routine purchases, sign on to trail grant pass‑through and back park project At their March 10 meeting the Kosciusko County Board of Commissioners approved a package of routine purchases and contracts, authorized signature pending legal review on a national opioid settlement, agreed to serve as a pass‑through for a Syracuse trail EDI grant application and issued a letter of support for the Enchanted Hills HOPE park project.

Kosciusko County is making strides with community projects, new equipment purchases, and a significant opioid settlement—what does this mean for residents?

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#KosciuskoCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment #PublicSafety #HealthEquity

Fort Wayne Community Schools presents preschool growth and funding squeeze in early learning update District early learning leaders told the board the district now runs more than 55 preschool classrooms, serves about 1,200 pre-K students with 300 on waiting lists, and faces funding cuts to state voucher programs that will require creative local responses.

Fort Wayne Community Schools is seeing unprecedented growth in preschool enrollment but faces a critical funding crisis that could limit future expansion.

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#IN #CitizenPortal #FortWayneEducation

MSD Warren Township holds second preliminary hearing on up to $40 million in bonds for school expansions and athletic facilities At a second required preliminary determination hearing, district counsel outlined a proposed maximum $40,000,000 borrowing (20-year term) to finance four elementary school additions, an indoor activity center and a youth athletic complex; board recorded a motion on a preliminary determination resolution but the transcript does not show a final roll-call tally.

MSD Warren Township is seeking to borrow up to $40 million to fund exciting new school expansions and athletic facilities, setting the stage for a brighter future for students.

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#IN #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment #YouthAthletics

Council authorizes commissioners to pursue purchase of roughly 17 acres for potential jail, contingent on testing The Owen County Council voted to authorize the county commissioners to move forward with a purchase agreement for about 17 acres west of Walmart at a stated asking price of $90,000 per acre, contingent on environmental testing, core drilling and a survey. Council members said the site offers utilities and two-way access, while some warned about long-term costs and tax impacts.

The Owen County Council has taken a significant step towards potentially relocating the jail, authorizing a purchase agreement for 17 acres near Walmart—amidst concerns over costs and environmental testing.

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#OwenCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #OwenCountyJail

Board hears updates on 2024 bond projects, K-8 upgrades, Woodside testing and Summit field bids Staff reported on 2024 GO bond-funded roof and HVAC work, K-8 renovation budgeting ($16M first phase), Woodside Middle structural testing (no helical piers recommended now) with $2M held for contingencies, and a $4M Summit track-and-field bid with LED retrofits under study.

Exciting updates reveal that several bond-funded projects are coming in under budget, with major renovations and K-8 upgrades on the horizon!

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#IN #CitizenPortal #CommunitySafety

MSD Southwest Allen County Schools board hears year‑one progress on academic pillar; CTE center planned for 2028 Superintendent Dr. Saint John and district staff presented year‑one progress on the academic pillar of the strategic plan, including elementary signature program exploration, curriculum adoptions, technology/AI guidelines, expansion of CTE pathways and a proposed CTE center with a tentative 2028 opening.

MSD Southwest Allen County Schools is making significant strides in education with new programs, innovative curriculum, and a groundbreaking CTE center set for 2028!

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#IN #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #CareerTechEducation

District presents $32 million schematic plan for new CTE center, estimates 18-month build At a work session, district staff outlined schematic plans and a first-pass $32 million budget for a Career and Technical Education center that would host 26 programs and emphasize hands-on, community-facing training; construction is estimated at about 18 months with completion targeted in May 2028.

A groundbreaking $32 million Career and Technical Education center is set to revolutionize vocational training in Indiana, boasting 26 programs and a community-focused capstone restaurant run by students!

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#IN #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #CommunityAccess

Residents urge citizen advisory board after Dearborn County solar moratorium; commissioners point to planning commission role Public commenters, citing a 2,300-signature petition, praised the board's recent solar moratorium and urged creation of a citizen advisory board. Commissioners said ordinance changes must start with the planning commission and recommended discussions with planning leadership about advisory-group structure and open-meeting requirements.

Residents are rallying for a citizen advisory board in Dearborn County to guide development after a significant solar moratorium, sparking discussions that could reshape local governance.

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#DearbornCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #DearbornCountyAdvisoryBoard #CommunityParticipation

Public urges citizen advisory board after solar moratorium; commissioners defer to planning commission Public commenters praised a recently adopted moratorium on solar-related ordinances and urged a citizen advisory board; commissioners said ordinance changes must originate with the planning commission and agreed to monitor the commission's progress.

Residents are calling for a citizen advisory board to guide solar-related ordinance changes in Dearborn County after a recent moratorium—will their voices be heard?

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#DearbornCounty #IN #CommunityEngagement #DearbornCountyCitizens #CitizenPortal #PublicParticipation

Winchester deputy chief asks county to help update end‑of‑life police radios; commissioners ask for countywide survey Deputy Chief Brandon Borndohler told commissioners Winchester’s portable radios are end‑of‑life and unable to receive encryption; he asked for county assistance and commissioners asked him to survey all towns to allow an equitable countywide approach.

Winchester's police radios are outdated and vulnerable, prompting a call for county support to ensure officer safety and secure communication across all municipalities.

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#RandolphCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #CommunitySupport #RandolphCountyPolice

Regional planning council reports $26 million in grants over 11 years; Howard County received roughly $2.2 million Steven Ray of the North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council told commissioners the council helped secure about $26 million in grant funding from 2015–2025 across six counties, with Howard County receiving roughly $2.2 million; commissioners accepted the council's annual contract by voice vote.

Howard County has secured over $2.2 million in grant funding as part of a staggering $26 million investment in regional infrastructure over the past 11 years!

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#HowardCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment

Gary council schedules March 12 forum on data centers; environmental expert to present Vice President Darren Washington announced a public forum March 12 at the Public Safety Community Room to discuss data centers’ benefits, costs and liabilities; Sam Carpenter of the Hoosier Environmental Council will present environmental perspectives.

Gary residents, mark your calendars for March 12 at 5:30 p.m. to engage in a crucial discussion about the future of data centers in your community!

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#IN #CommunityEngagement #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #PublicSafety #GaryDataCenters

Parks board signs off on SprayTech training, emergency zoo repairs and support letter for septic-elimination project The board approved a $25,000 SprayTech training agreement to certify a new pesticide-applicator assistant, authorized emergency repairs at the zoo (furnace and walk-in cooler) and adopted a letter supporting the Michigan City Sanitary District’s septic-elimination project to reduce E. coli contamination at Trail Creek and Lake Michigan.

The Michigan City Parks Board has taken crucial steps to enhance local environmental safety and animal welfare, from training pesticide applicators to urgent zoo repairs and tackling E. coli pollution.

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#LaPorteCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #PublicHealth #LaPorteCountyParks

St. Joseph County approves Motorola radio replacements and console migration estimate totaling roughly $1.36 million The county approved purchase of 50 Motorola APX portable radios for about $61,896.47 (with trade-in credits) and authorized a $1.3 million AXS dispatch console migration; staff said Motorola offered about $805,000 in promotional savings if approved by March 16.

St. Joseph County is set to modernize its emergency response with a $1.36 million upgrade to radios and dispatch consoles, ensuring reliable communications for years to come.

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#JosephCounty #IN #EmergencyCommunications #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #StJosephCounty

Resident urges county engagement on redevelopment, raises concerns about gaming project and grant support A resident delivered extended public comment urging local officials to seek grant funding and pressing the county to stay involved with a proposed gaming/redevelopment project, while citing unverified figures about jobs and state funding.

A concerned resident has raised alarm bells over a proposed gaming project, urging county officials to clarify job impacts and pursue vital grant funding amidst rising confusion in the community.

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#OhioCounty #IN #CommunityEngagement #CitizenPortal #PublicComment

Residents warn drainage board that Hexagon solar plans could damage century‑old tiles and worsen flooding Residents used privilege of the floor to present a binder and maps showing large solar proposals (described as 2,000 to 7,047 acres in different maps), urged limits near county tile lines and urged the board to require engineered detention and tile protections; county counsel materials describing the board's statutory powers were also presented.

Residents are raising alarms over massive solar developments that could threaten century-old drainage systems and exacerbate flooding in St. Joseph County.

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#JosephCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalImpact #StJosephCounty

Johnson County approves Greenwood Place drainage plan amid neighborhood sewer and pond concerns The Johnson County Drainage Board approved Greenwood Place after engineers said runoff would decrease for design storms; nearby residents and the HOA raised worries about a shared pond, maintenance responsibilities and separate sanitary‑sewer problems with the city of Greenwood.

The Johnson County Drainage Board has approved the contentious Greenwood Place subdivision plan, but residents are raising critical concerns about drainage and shared pond maintenance.

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#JohnsonCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #CommunityConcerns #StormwaterManagement

Board raises alarm after missed tornado warning; debates short-term vendor fixes and contract limits After some residents did not receive a tornado warning, the board discussed failures in its mass-notification system (data carryover, limited certified users), contract limits with the incumbent vendor and whether to pay roughly $4,186 for overlapping contractor support to maintain alerts until a long-term solution is in place.

After a critical failure left residents without tornado warnings, Decatur County's board is urgently debating how to fix its mass-notification system before disaster strikes again.

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#DecaturCounty #IN #CrisisCommunication #CitizenPortal #EmergencyManagement #CommunityAlertSystem

Planners discuss reintroducing PUD overlay and new state housing report requirements Commissioners discussed reintroducing a Planned Unit Development (PUD) overlay to encourage mixed-use and higher-density housing options and reviewed state legislation (House Bill 1001) that will require annual housing reporting and other ordinance adjustments; staff will return draft language and advertise for a public hearing.

Kosciusko County is considering a game-changing Planned Unit Development (PUD) overlay that could reshape the future of housing and mixed-use spaces in the area!

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#KosciuskoCounty #IN #UrbanDevelopment #CitizenPortal

Residents and council member press commissioners on Microsoft data center, TIF expansion and Patriot Veil extension County council member Andy Rutten and residents including Stacia Skillman and Steve Zeifong urged commissioners to explain why the Microsoft data center and a possible TIF expansion are back before the commissioners and raised concerns about land use, school proximity, train impacts and fiscal effects on county general fund.

Residents are demanding answers from commissioners about the controversial Microsoft data center and its potential impact on their community, raising red flags about land use and tax implications.

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#JosephCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #LandUseIssues #CommunityConcerns #StJosephCounty

District staff outline questions about scaling apartment-and-church composting pilot Staff updated the executive committee on a composting pilot that the district assumed from a departing contractor, reporting frequent bin repairs, labor and material costs, training needs and a decision point about whether to continue servicing sites past the partner period or shift to a fee-based/support role.

The Waste Reduction District faces a crucial decision on whether to continue hands-on composting support or shift to a fee-based model as they tackle costly repairs and training challenges.

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#MonroeCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #WasteReduction #CommunityPartnerships