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Resident alleges lack of transparency in Cherry Lane title transfers to Purdue; council hears request for records
Summary
During public comment a resident alleged the city approved a land transfer involving state-owned road property to Purdue University without recorded title transfers and asked the council for documents and explanation; council acknowledged the comment and the speaker requested follow-up.
A resident, identified by the clerk as Mr. Rao, told the West Lafayette Common Council on Aug. 5 that he is pursuing public records and raised allegations about title transfers and construction work on Cherry Lane related to Purdue University.
Mr. Rao said the council previously approved an ordinance that transferred land near U.S. 126 to Purdue as a corporate entity and that county recorder records show no recorded title transfer to support the action. He also described easement problems during construction, additional lighting and narrowing of the road, and questioned how the city could approve a transfer for property he said remains state-owned by the Indiana Department of Transportation. “The city council approved the ordinance to transfer land that they don't own,” he said, and asked for public records documenting any transfer of title from the state or N.DOT to the city and then to Purdue.
Mr. Rao asked the council to explain how the transfer occurred and how the public can get involved, saying he had raised similar concerns two years earlier without resolution.
The council did not take immediate action on his request during the meeting; the speaker asked for follow-up on public-records requests and for transparency on title and easement documentation.
