[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5975017,"mediaKeyId","5828968-859a239e3928f5cb7e429227d2d5e1b2","parentId",5828968,"title","Annexation plan for 168 acres draws sharp resident opposition and procedural dispute","audioSeconds",3511,"startMs",2954000,"endMs",6465000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5828968-859a239e3928f5cb7e429227d2d5e1b2&start=2954&end=6465","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5828968-859a239e3928f5cb7e429227d2d5e1b2/thumbnail_2954000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5975017/Indiana/Annexation-plan-for-168-acres-draws-sharp-resident-opposition-and-procedural-dispute","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975017-1006e1178536da5ab6ffe4ef519bfa65/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500251&Signature=OFV6gf~VKZ~DI8ITmcPhci9xe5iFmDVE5igIZLumZAvF6~q7Pjum-zN~Nj5fhkNicMPOO5Rx9p4BaWsWJbsiM0YTCwn2bjSCWGR44pvRhiL01AiNjgeChUmBDkQQBU0I5B4UzNP7svV8zkv791cQR~oPL~mOiXSrpsoeB9DoeF5FxJZEdto6i-t058dni5Aa36E5KnDw54CVivwqDAgeTD6hetGL9HAGJrfU5Au0wMWrVYFxoKi0OmVxE0eu9P6Q8~lejwGDkW~A3b3UaFORzQtmd-fSS4iJn620U~RWgbgYp~PGYYNH9xLTAHDc4UAc1js7ciPJGRtmN9EGYCrgpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of St. John, Indiana","date","2025-09-25T00:00:00Z","article","A proposed annexation and planned-unit development tied to developer John Lawton prompted extended public comment and an on-the-floor procedural dispute at the Town of Saint John council meeting on Sept. 24. Residents raised concerns about density, potable water impacts on private wells, transparency and potential legal irregularities. Council members attempted a motion to deny Ordinance 18-70 but the town attorney said the matter was not properly on that night’s agenda.

Why it matters: The annexation would bring unincorporated land into Saint John and enable large-scale housing development. Residents and some council members said the plan — described in meeting materials as nearly 972 units — could strain water, roads, schools and emergency services and that the town and several advisory boards were not given adequate time or documentation to review the proposal.

Council discussion began when a council member made a motion to deny Ordinance 18-70, which the transcript records passing in a voice vote of 4–1; the town attorney then stated the item was not on the agenda and therefore not properly before the council. Council members then discussed procedural options, including suspending the rules to take immediate action; town counsel advised that unanimous council consent would be required and the suspension did not have the required support.

Public comment during item 6 filled much of the meeting. About 15 people spoke; speakers from Saint John and neighboring unincorporated areas described prior interactions with Lawton, asserted that boards (including the Water Works Board) had been “blindsided” by recent filings, and emphasized worries that new municipal wells or new waterlines could lower nearby private wells. Several public speakers referenced Indiana statutory requirements for annexation and described plans to seek outside legal review.

Residents and community leaders used pointed language. Donna Fasky, identified in the record as living on Maple Lane, told the council: “Water is just the Trojan horse that will accomplish that.” Katie Hague, a resident on Calumet Avenue, said earlier comments made at a Sept. 10 meeting signaled some council members were not aligning with resident concerns. A number of speakers referenced prior actions by Lawton and litigation history, and several asked the council to reject the PUD or to require additional studies (hydrogeologic testing, traffic and school‑capacity analyses) before further action.

Town officials and some council members emphasized a separate point: the town needs long‑term water capacity as it grows. Council member Christian Jorgensen and others said acquiring water sources and extending service into currently unincorporated areas is expensive and complicated, and that the town has an obligation to plan for potable supply for future residents.

Legal and process issues were raised from multiple sides. Rose Kleiny asked the council to seek outside counsel on Indiana Code 36‑4‑3‑4, and resident Patricia Chorba said she believed the town’s interpretation of the statute had been incorrect; she also said the Water Works Board had learned of the proposal by reading news coverage. Multiple speakers said they were organizing to pursue legal options if their concerns are not addressed.

Next steps: The council did not finalize a binding denial because of the procedural objection; members said the annexation and related water plans would return for future hearings and further review by the Water Works Board, sanitary and water boards, and by staff. Several residents said they would continue organizing and may pursue outside legal review.

Ending note: The meeting captured a sharp divide between resident opposition focused on density, wells and process and council members who stressed long-term utility planning. The council agreed to additional internal review; any formal action on Ordinance 18-70 was deferred for proper agenda placement and board review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Meeting - September 24th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A proposed annexation and planned-unit development tied to developer John Lawton prompted extended public comment on Sept. 24, with residents warning the plan’s density and water work could harm private wells and local infrastructure.","taxTitle","St John Town, Lake County, Indiana","taxId",52278,"location","Indiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5975021,"Saint John council reviews 2026 budget as Senate Enrolled Act 1 begins to bite",1677,781000,2458000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5828968-859a239e3928f5cb7e429227d2d5e1b2&start=781&end=2458","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5828968-859a239e3928f5cb7e429227d2d5e1b2/thumbnail_781000.jpg","/articles/5975021/Indiana/Saint-John-council-reviews-2026-budget-as-Senate-Enrolled-Act-1-begins-to-bite","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975021-1f419b077c333268adea3b5901094636/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500251&Signature=km39pFt0u-qCemUv9uew1OwnRXXsC3Mjuxr444FGvspEHGKRoEaWCfYxtswHUFrpdlPGK4OxcuQDTMnqiD93hzNkHFeQV4hh~BgxFwxpvCQqj86Hfy9I4r7DPuMMWMuJG4E1mGprJ0xA37K~P5mCQ1glSAFL8ZFvy30DJtSrnmneWa6Hm6CKd9Fod01NJI5LnX9a~nK8lerpZtwVSkf15jx05zZw0M~wSqZ3bZHvSBIgBe1xrYfzcEO6Cxd9zDgoZQNkuyuj-vng~VxchdSZy374fEF6P2hZ88HuqIoMrVbd1nITywwDvwzglC~eYpwxyi9Y~qbuLc0wfHE9JhUfaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Saint John on Sept. 24 heard a detailed presentation on the 2026 municipal budget and early effects of Senate Enrolled Act 1, with financial advisers saying the town faces an estimated $1 million increase in circuit-breaker losses and recommending a council workshop to plan responses. Amber Nielsen of Baker Tilly told the council that 2026 is “the first year of the impacts that come from Senate Enrolled Act 1,” and that the town’s general fund would likely shoulder most of the loss.

Why it matters: The changes in state law will phase in over several years and shift some tax relief to residential homeowners while reducing property-tax revenue for local governments. Saint John lawmakers will have local decisions to make in 2027 about whether to replace county income-tax revenue at the town level.

Baker Tilly’s presentation summarized five years of revenue and spending history and laid out assumptions for 2026. The firm estimated an increase in circuit-breaker exemptions of just over $1.0 million statewide impacts allocated to the town, with about $750,000 of that affecting the general fund. The Department of Local Government Finance’s growth quotient for property-tax levies is capped at 4% for 2026, Nielsen said, and the Legislative Services Agency’s April 2025 estimates were used for the circuit-breaker figures.

Nielsen said the town has benefited for years from rising net assessed value, which helped keep circuit-breaker losses low and tax rates relatively flat. Baker Tilly projected about a 5.5% increase in Lake County net assessed value for 2026, and estimated a roughly 6% increase in the town’s local income tax allocation for next year. But the firm warned that beginning in 2028 some county-administered local income-tax buckets could move to municipal control, which would require local decision-making to preserve existing revenue streams.

On specific funds, the advisers showed the proposed 2026 budget as balanced overall for main operating funds (general, motor vehicle highway, park, public safety LIT), while several capital funds were planned to spend down reserves for projects. Notable capital items include a multi-phase US-41 water-main replacement project that will draw roughly $1 million from the water utility fund for phase one and a large stormwater project on Joliet Street.

The presentation also outlined a five-year financial forecast showing that the town’s combined funds remain above a 50% operating-reserve target through 2029 under the current plan, but that the general fund could drop close to the 15% minimum under a “no-action” scenario after 2028 when certain income-tax distributions change unless the council adopts replacement revenue or other measures.

Council members and staff discussed technical points, including why some tax-rate lines on Form 4 were intentionally inflated to allow cushion for bond closings and net-assessed-value changes. Nielsen said lease-rental estimates were set at “the absolute maximum tax rate…for planning purposes” and would be adjusted after bonds close. She and Eric Walsh recommended a planning workshop this year to walk through the five-year forecast and the Act 1 impacts.

Quotes from meeting participants were limited to those on the record. Amber Nielsen (Baker Tilly) said, “2026 is the first year of the impacts that come from Senate Enrolled Act 1.” Beth Hernandez (Clerk Treasurer) and other staff confirmed that the town’s budgets and supporting documents have been posted online and are available for review.

Next steps: Baker Tilly asked the council to schedule a workshop before year-end to review the five-year plan and the Act 1 impacts so the town can consider replacement revenue options, efficiency opportunities or other policy responses. The council conducted first readings on the civil, sanitary and water budgets and directed staff to continue outreach with the water and sanitary boards on capital projects.

Ending note: Staff and advisers said several budgeted capital projects will draw reserves in 2026 by design, and that the council has roughly a year before the larger statutory changes take effect in 2028 to evaluate options and adopt local policy changes if desired.","The Town of Saint John on Sept. 24 heard a detailed presentation on the 2026 municipal budget and early effects of Senate Enrolled Act 1, with advisers saying the town faces an estimated $1 million increase in circuit-breaker losses and recommending a council workshop to plan responses.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5975013,"Saint John council dedicates new community center to Detective Aaron Ampere, declares Police Appreciation Day",239,70000,309000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5828968-859a239e3928f5cb7e429227d2d5e1b2&start=70&end=309","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5828968-859a239e3928f5cb7e429227d2d5e1b2/thumbnail_70000.jpg","/articles/5975013/Indiana/Saint-John-council-dedicates-new-community-center-to-Detective-Aaron-Ampere-declares-Police-Appreciation-Day","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975013-b77c53326e10cca8f488d82b496ca663/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500251&Signature=Ws7mEEFjDRiOdFiBDZsEL5tUuG7Rzu1baxB26cPwRKs6kkCpbEOuhj-9H-lq7xozQgxb3bGRJFf-JglSlSc83RBYYn33VZeCaGor214~Zlh0lMxWUBXm2AUrO6RXqv0H3KCETveJyELjVj3pNN5HHyN1bWXymZ~uvVT9wzriPSEXEiQgPZoGICIieqSC7sXT3IZ9~Hi1rNgQiMGLrpnseoJ4I3xrsf~qAPEqe5zurOtNMEJrlLow3TF3ILten4nB~4rH5EKmz13-N9erlICHfyg~jizLYFoAu02uC6BME3pz2a6DxBwR2oq-nYwfk9V2DDhDcCyZyBFNRl8CDp7fLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Saint John on Sept. 24 voted unanimously to dedicate the new community center to the memory of Detective Aaron Ampere and to designate Sept. 25, 2025 as Police Appreciation Day.

The council adopted Resolution 2025-09-24A, a dedication of the new community center in memory of Detective Aaron Ampere, and Resolution 2025-09-24B, a resolution supporting the police department and recognizing Police Appreciation Day. Both resolutions were moved, seconded and approved by the council in voice votes recorded as unanimous.

Chief Flores addressed the room and the detective’s family, saying the dedication “means a lot to us in the police department to make sure that we… never forget him and that he's with us always and forever.” Family members identified in the transcript included the detective’s brother Al, his daughter Holland and his wife Ali. Council members asked for a brief break to allow family photos and to offer private respects.

The dedication resolution language in the record directed that “appropriate signage, plaques, and commemorative materials shall be placed within and upon the facility to reflect this designation and honor Detective Aaron Ampere’s life of service, dedication, and sacrifice,” and instructed that the resolution be entered into the town’s permanent record.

Ending note: Council members and police officials framed the actions as a permanent memorial and a show of departmental and community appreciation; the resolutions passed on unanimous voice votes and the family attended the brief recognition and photo opportunity.","The Town Council unanimously approved two resolutions on Sept. 24: dedication of the new community center to the memory of Detective Aaron Ampere and designation of Sept. 25, 2025 as Police Appreciation Day. Police Chief Flores and family members attended; Chief Flores said the dedication ensures the department will remember his service.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Annexation plan for 168 acres draws sharp resident opposition and procedural dispute

Saint John council reviews 2026 budget as Senate Enrolled Act 1 begins to bite

Saint John council dedicates new community center to Detective Aaron Ampere, declares Police Appreciation Day