Senate bill to eliminate forced annexation passes first hurdle

The annexation saga takes another turn at the statehouse as Senate Bill 114 introduced by Senators Jeff Drozda and Bev Gard passed the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee hearing. Last spring, Senator Gard introduced two bills to the same committee to help her constituents affected by forced annexation. These bills, designed to lower the threshold of remonstrance from 65% to 51% (Senate bill 161) and require the municipality to reimburse legal fees if unsuccessful (Senate bill 112), never made it out of the same committee.

Senate bill 114 goes much further in stopping forced annexation for good, and for the good went much farther today by being passed on to the Senate floor (6-4) for a vote.

Effective date for the law change would be January 1, 2008, making it “first in line” to the Fishers annexation ordinances which are expected to pass next Tuesday night.

In short, if this bill passes, Fishers will not be able to forcibly annex Geist this spring, or in the foreseeable future for that matter.

The “Towns of Geist” still has a ring to it.

Of course, Fishers Town Council member “Pooh” Easley is on record for saying “that’s not fair.” What’s fair about forcing your will on people that don’t want you and then making them defend themselves on their own dime against you? What’s “fair” about forced annexation?

This story is long from over, but in the twists and turns of this novel you get a sense that we are nearing the end. Remonstrance proceedings will begin most likely next week and the 90-day window to get 65% of the signatures needed to take this to court will open. However, Senate Bill 114 could be the silver bullet that saves the day and puts an end to this ludicrous loophole that was created in 1999 to save the City of Fort Wayne from bankruptcy. Brainard and Faultless will have to use their charm to get neighboring unincorporated areas to voluntarily annex into their municipalities.

Mike Tyson has a better chance of winning a spelling bee.

Thanks again to Senator Bev Gard for her relentless support and leadership. Also, thanks to the Geist United Opposition for being not only aggressive against annexation, but proponents of change in state legislation. Keep your fingers crossed that the Senate will pass this bill and move it on to the House of Representatives.