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Whitestown approves interlocal agreement with Zionsville to adjudicate town ordinance violations
Summary
Whitestown approved an interlocal agreement sending Whitestown ordinance adjudication to Zionsville town court, citing capacity issues since Whitestown’s court ceased operations; the agreement is cost-shared (50% fee to Zionsville), includes a 12-month review and can be terminated with 60 days' notice.
The Whitestown Town Council voted 5-0 on July 9, 2025, to approve an interlocal agreement with the Town of Zionsville for adjudication of Whitestown ordinance violations in Zionsville town court.
Town staff and council described the agreement as a remedy to long-standing enforcement gaps after Whitestown's town court operations were suspended around 2019 and officially closed in 2022. A staff presenter described the interlocal agreement as "the first step" toward reestablishing local ordinance adjudication, explaining that using Zionsville's court will avoid the town hiring and funding a full court staff and judge. The presenter said Zionsville agreed to adjudicate Whitestown ordinance violations and that the arrangement will be cost neutral for Zionsville; Zionsville's docketing and clerical costs are covered by a fee split that, as discussed, is initially set at 50% of the fine amount.
Resident Ken Kingsville of 6515 East County Road asked how Whitestown had been handling ordinance enforcement since the court closed; a staff member and council members explained that county courts generally handle statutory (state) traffic matters but that local municipal ordinance enforcement had been limited or attempted through lawsuits because Boone County lacked capacity to accept the town’s ordinances for routine adjudication. Kingsville asked, "I assume we're currently ... having things adjudicated through the Boone County court system?" and staff clarified that county court primarily handles state statute matters, not local ordinances.
Council members and staff explained the financial and operational mechanics: Zionsville will docket and collect fines; Whitestown will receive its share of fine proceeds via a mechanism to be finalized. Staff said the agreement includes a planned 12-month "rearview" review between the towns to assess the fee arrangement and operational details and that either party may terminate the agreement with 60 days' notice. Zionsville will place a similar resolution on its agenda for its review; Whitestown moved first at Zionsville’s request.
During discussion council members thanked Zionsville leadership and law enforcement partners. The council noted next steps will include ordinance amendments to align Whitestown’s fines with current practice in preparation for Zionsville adjudication; staff said Zionsville hopes to begin handling some Whitestown ordinance matters by September.
