Council approves vacating Thunder Drive after debate over access, snow removal and university plans

The Angola City Council voted to adopt Ordinance No. 1778-2025, vacating a portion of Thunder Drive, after a lengthy discussion in which council members raised concerns about public access, snow removal, utility responsibilities and the unknown future use of the property.

Why this matters: Vacating a public street transfers control of the roadway and adjacent ROW to the adjoining property owner (subject to any retained easements). That change can alter municipal maintenance obligations, emergency access routes and how the public uses the corridor.

What the council heard Council members who opposed the vacation said the road functions as a public bypass used by residents south of town and that closing or transferring control could create dead ends for city vehicles, complicate snow removal and limit access for neighbors. One council member noted uncertainty about the petitioner’s long-term plans and warned that vacating a public easement could allow uses that would restrict public passage, such as gates or private parking.

Representatives of Trine University explained that the institution has safety and traffic concerns, that it enforces campus driving privileges for students on university property and that it has an interest in managing vehicle access adjacent to campus. The university representative said he could not provide details about long‑range master plans at the meeting and suggested some traffic and safety issues underlie the petition.

Council members and staff also discussed technical points: where existing water mains terminate and who maintains private vs. public water lines, easement terms that limit building within the vacated area (for example, restrictions on structures over three feet in height were referenced in the meeting), and whether stop signs at the railroad crossing would remain. Staff agreed to verify stop‑sign ownership and return with a formal answer.

Vote and next steps The council adopted the ordinance on a roll-call vote: Council Members Olson, Sharkey and McDermott voted "aye;" Council Members Coffey and Dow voted "no." (Recorded tally: 3–2.) Staff reported the vacation includes an easement agreement with provisions that restrict building within the vacated strip and noted emergency‑access obligations remain a concern for both the city and the university. The public‑works director and city staff will provide maps and copies of the easement documentation as follow up.

Ending: Staff were directed to confirm maintenance responsibilities, signage ownership at the railroad crossing and emergency‑access arrangements, and to return to the council with clarified documentation.