The South Bend Tribune from South Bend, Indiana • 11

OPINION South Bend Tribune Thursday. January 27. 1994 0 All Annexation issue stands in way of community INDIANA LEGISLATORS Here are the names and addresses of members of the Indiana General Assembly whose districts are included in The Tnbunes circulation area: STATE REPRESENTATIVES State Rep. Thomas J. Alevizos, D-Michi-gan City t- State Rep Ralph D.

Ayres, R-Chesterton State Rep. B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend State Rep. Mary Kay Budak, R-LaPorte State Rep. Gary Cook, D-Plymouth State Rep.

Michael Dvorak, D-Granger State Rep. Craig Fry, D-Mishawaka State Rep. Thomas Kromkowski, D-South Bend State Rep. Richard Mangus, R-Lakeville' State Rep. Dean Mock, R-Elkhart State Rep.

William J. Ruppel, R-North Manchester State Rep. Michael D. Smith. R-Rensselaer State Rep.

W. Dale Sturtz, D-LaGrange State Rep. Philip Warner, R-Goshen State Rep. Esther M. Wilson, D-Portage State Rep.

David Wolkins, R-Winona Lake You can write to state representatives at the following address: House of Representatives, Statehouse, Indianapolis, Ind. 46204-2786 STATE SENATORS State Sen. Kent Adams. R-Bremen State Sen. William E.

Alexa. D-Valpa-raiso State Sen. Anita Bowser. D-Michigan City State Sen. Douglas Hunt, D-South Bend State Sen.

Robert Meeks, R-LaGrange State Sen. Marvin Riegsecker, R-Goshen State Sen. Thomas W. Weatherwax, R-Logansport State Sen. Joseph C.

Zakas, R-Granger You can write to state senators at the following address: Senate, Statehouse, Indianapolis, Ind. 46204-2785 in ending this divisive struggle and commit itself to offering a new approach to opportunities for growth and developing a stronger sense of community. Setting aside the Clay-German annexation is an important step in that direction. It will wipe the slate clean so that we can start fresh in addressing this issue It is clear that the old annexation law was a failure when applied in this instance. That does not mean, however, that to support this rescission of the Clay-German annexation makes one anti-annexation.

I continue to support the 1992 South Bend annexation policy. New annexations ought to be judged on a case-by-case basis. What the Clay-German annexation illustrates is the need to change our fundamental approach to growth. The real issue is not whether or not to annex. The real issue centers on taxation, the provision of governmental services and fairness We in St.

Joseph County must come to recognize that we have more in common' than we have differences. The vast majority of us in this community drive on the same streets, shop at the same stores, get our news from the same sources and want the same things from local government: efficient, effective services and a vision for our collective future To this end, I propose that a special, independent, non-partisan commission be appointed to make recommendations in two specific areas- The feasibility of completely overhauling our local property tax system. Across-the-board elimination of duplication of services between local governmental units. This task will not be an easy one. However, if we are to make real progress as a community, the choice is clear We must change the relationship between local governmental units to create more efficient, effective solutions to the challenges that lie ahead for St Joseph County.

The alternative is to be mired in stagnation, forever divided by our own parochialism. My position on this issue is consistent with earlier statements I have made on annexation and sets a course that will best serve the interests of South Bend residents and residents of the greater St. Joseph County community in the long run. South Bond Common Council member Sean Coleman, D-at-large, Is a candidate for the 1st District Democratic nomination for St. Joseph County commissioner.

By SEAN COLEMAN a Jan. 13 editorial, The Tnbunes Editorial Board was critical of me for asking the South Bend Common Council to rescind the 1973 annexation plan for parts of Clay and German townships in northern St. Joseph County. Here I offer background as to why I am asking my council colleagues to rescind this ordinance. A chronology of annexation-related events for consideration: 1) The original ordinance, annexing 3,450 acres into the city of South Bend, was adppted on June 25, 1973.

It landed in St. Joseph Superior Court Sept. 7, 1973. where it has been ever since. How long ago was that? Well.

Richard Nixon was president, Jerry Miller was mayor of South Bend, Adams Road was known mainly as the home of "Gravity Hill" because none of what is now, the Knollwood area had been developed. At )7 years old, I was not yet old enough to vote. 2) In the years since. South Bend has been involved in several annexations; some successful and others not. Among the most notable annexations were: The Maple Lane annexation of 1971.

which the city was forced to rescind in 1977? The German-Clay-Portage annexation of 1974, which was later rescinded. The 1992 annexation of an area just north of Juday Creek, bounded by Indiana 23, Douglas Road and the Mishawaka city line, which the city rescinded in early 1993. As a member of the city council, I supported this annexation and its rescission when the city (citing lack ot time and expense) chose not to fight a court challenge by remonstrators. 3) In November 1992, Mayor Joseph E. Keman presented the city council with the South Bend Annexation Policy and Plan.

The plan did not identify the Clay-German area as a priority for annexation. 4) On Feb. 3, 1993, Keman submitted Bill 9-93, requesting that the Clay-German annexation be rescinded. The mayor stated, We cannot afford to expend additional, scarce personnel and physical resources as his qeasons for the request, and he added, The time has come to unburden the Superior Court of this case and move on to more productive use of staff time. MICHIANA POINT OF VIEW 5) The mayor later pulled Bill 9-93, prior to any action by the council, when the Indiana General Assembly was asked to consider a bill (commonly referred to as the Dvorak annexation bill) that would essentially restrict only South Bend and Mishawaka (but no other Indiana cities) to voluntary annexations.

The mayor sought to use the Clay-German annexation to prevent the passage of the Dvorak annexation bill. The strategy failed. The Dvorak bill, which I opposed then and oppose now because I believe it is unfair to South Bend and Mishawaka, became law. 6) While the Dvorak annexation bill was under consideration, The Tribune published several editorials focusing on it. On March 28, 1993, a Tribune editorial stated: "South Bend and Mishawaka should not target areas for annexation where residents are overwhelmingly opposed to joining the cities.

Time and again such efforts have failed or spent years in the courts. (The editorial further stated that the task for the cities is to convince residents of unincorporated areas of the county that is to their benefit to become part of a city.) It is reasonable to conclude that the editorial was referring, at least in part, to the Clay-German annexation. It is in light of these events that I requested in early Januaiy that the city council consider rescinding the Clay-German annexation measure. Despite the passage of the Dvorak bill, the reasons given in Bill 9-93 for rescission of that annexation are still valid. In addition, there is one powerful reason for rescinding the Clay-German annexation.

It is keeping us from becoming a stronger community. For more than 20 years, the Clay-German annexation has pitted the people of those areas against the city and its need for growth to keep the economic engine of our community vital. It has created fear, suspicion, mistrust and downright hostility between the two groups. It has kept the two sides at odds and kept in power those who have chosen for their own political gain to play on peoples fear of annexation. In the process, we have all lost opportunities to move forward together.

While these hard and fast lines remain between the city and people in unincorporated areas of St. Joseph County, we will not live up to our potential as a community. The time has come for South Bend to take the lead OPINION PAGES DOONESBURY By GARRY TRUDEAU I. SOME OF WHICH TO mm-I HALS CLAIMS HS MAX Ym LOAN AT A 7 HE PRESIDENT DENIES MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE Here are members of the Michigan Legislature whose districts are in The Tribune's circulation area. State Representatives State Rep.

Robert Brackenridge, R-St. Joseph State Rep. Carl Gnodtke, R-Sawyer State Rep. James "Mick Middaugh, R-Paw Paw State Rep. Glenn Oxender, R-Sturgis You can write to the representatives at the following address: House of Representatives, State Capitol.

Lansing, Mich. 48913. State senators State Sen. Harry Gast, R-St. Joseph State Sen.

Paul Wartner, R-Portage You can wnte to state senators at the following address: Senate, State Capitol, Lansing, Mich. 48913. The views expressed in Tribune editorials represent the opinion of The Tnbunes Editorial Board. The board members are listed daily on the Opinion page. Readers are encouraged to express their own opinions in letters to Voice of the People.

Longer pieces will be considered for the Michiana Point of View column. Due to volume, unsolicited pieces cannot be acknowledged or returned. Opinions expressed in columns, letters, syndicated editorial cartoons and editonals from other newspapers represent the views of those writers or artists. They do not necessarily reflect the views of The Tribune. Flip fWA' I cmacziya crafts Soft Music a Blazing Fire and a Casual Country Now Serving Weekends! Enjoy lunch or dinner overlooking the countryside, complete menu includes both innovative and traditional entrees.

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50 ao-9 auto. yjOS Dried Flemers rFflANRiIcouPOrr EDITORIAL TOPICS INCLUDE: Savings Investing Credit Debt Taxes Insurance Retirement nrwpuDCCnsE C7 025 on I Cannot be combined with any other coupon Not I I valid on previously purchased merchandise LmH one coupon per purchase Coupon exp. 1 30-94. Store Hoot: MoxUy thre Friday 1 to SfmrtUy 19 to S. Swnday 1 to 5 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the South BendTnbune Advertising Department at 219-235-6389.