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Annual Report for Madison County: Business & Industry | The Herald Bulletin
John P. Cleary / The Herald Bulletin
Shot of I-69 exit 214 at Indiana 13 showing the area on the north side of the interstate that was in the proposed annexation area. Just north of the exit ramp is a state highway garage and next to that, to the north, is Newco Metals Inc.
Surrounding towns mull annexation options after Anderson proposal fails By Jack Molitor The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON — The idea of annexation in Anderson has been tabled for the time being. The proposal, part of Mayor Kevin Smith’s Anderson Fast Forward plan, was recommended as a way to stabilize Anderson’s population and tax base and create a strong economic corridor to the west along I-69. The idea was panned by residents of the proposed areas and subsequently voted down by the City Council in a meeting on March 14. The plan died before gaining any momentum. But the land is still out there,
and the way surrounding towns and cities have been growing, it’s land someone is bound to acquire, Smith said. “The plan is logical if we want to compete with the job market and the population market of other communities like Noblesville, Fishers, Pendleton,” Smith said. “It’s all about being able to compete.” With the deterioration of economic influence in Anderson over recent decades, the population and business market had migrated south along the interstate, which has developed into an open and fertile ground for expansion. With neighboring Lapel and Pendleton and even Hamilton
County cities growing and encroaching along the corridor, Smith was hopeful to stretch the city’s presence all the way to Exit 214 to the southwest. Department of Economic Development Director Greg Winkler agreed. “Exit 214 makes us relevant again,” Winkler said. “You’re going to be in great shape if that’s your southwest boundary. If you can’t get there, you’re less of a player. We hear this on a regular basis.” Winkler said the town or city that grabs the valuable land near the metropolitan loop of I-465 is in a position to be globally competitive as a job market for the next 50 years. He also said he was
concerned with the city’s viability as a county seat if it can’t expand and stabilize. “Our concern is that the budget won’t get better moving forward,” Winkler said. “We have firemen and police to pay, roads to pave, and we don’t think we have the money to cover a shortfall.” So who will make a move? Pendleton Town Council President Don Henderson said his town council is satisfied with Pendleton’s current configuration and wants to maintain a small-town atmosphere. Expansion would be counterproductive to that end. Lapel Town Council President
Gary Shuck didn’t deny annexation ambitions for his town, but said the economy needs to turn around before that happens. Lapel is moving forward with a recently submitted super-voluntary annexation of about 10 properties within the area Anderson was proposing, effectively blocking out some of the land in play. Shuck said the town is pleased with the move and he will continue to promote the south side of the town as an area for growth. Otherwise, he said Lapel will watch and wait to see what happens. “No matter what happens, there’s always something coming up next,” Shuck said.