St. Joseph County, Mishawaka and local utilities approve memorandum of understanding on Northeast service area

The Saint Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a multi-party memorandum of understanding intended to coordinate water and sewer service planning for the east side of Mishawaka.

The agreement, presented by Bill Shalio, economic development director in the county Department of Infrastructure Planning and Growth, covers a corridor described as the East Side of Mishawaka — north of the river to the state line, west toward the county line and south to a southern Mishawaka boundary — and specifically includes the area the staff called the Northeast Territory, which Shalio said includes Granger, the Capitol Avenue corridor and a potential Microsoft development site.

County officials said the MOU is a positioning document to put terms and timelines in place so the parties can develop maps for water and sewer service and later negotiate a definitive service agreement.

"What this agreement does before you today is puts in place a set of terms and timelines so that we can work towards developing maps for both water and sewer service in these areas," said Bill Shalio, economic development director. Shalio said the Regional Water Sewer District already has signed the MOU and that Granger Water was expected to sign and Mishawaka's Board of Public Works and Safety was approving the document concurrently.

Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said the memorandum aims to coordinate planning while a separate Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) proceeding is active. Shalio said Mishawaka filed with the IURC in April and May to establish an exclusive service territory, and the county wants to work with partners over the next 45 to 60 days to prepare mapping and a service plan that could limit competing regulatory actions.

Commissioner discussion and vote: Commissioners praised staff work to assemble the agreement and encouraged cooperation. Commissioner Morton and Commissioner Hazen both voiced support; the board recorded aye votes and the motion carried.

Discussion vs. action: Commissioners and staff described the MOU as a collaborative, non-final positioning document to guide mapping and future negotiations. The board's approval authorizes participation in the MOU; it does not by itself finalize a provider or alter any regulatory filings before the IURC.

Next steps: Shalio said the next 45 to 60 days are critical to complete mapping and to "keep the IURC process kind of at bay while we work through these other issues." The MOU is intended to lead to a definitive agreement among the city, the county, the regional district and Granger Water.

Ending: The board voted to approve the memorandum of understanding; no public commenters spoke on the item during the meeting.