Councilwoman Dalia Zygas, D-At-Large, he proposed ordinance is a response to residents asking last fall, “How can we ensure we enjoy the summer as well?”
MICHIGAN CITY â Park Superintendent Ed Shinn was beside Mayor Duane Parry when the latter left a racist message for Pastor James Lane.
Parry told Lane, who is black, and other members of the Michigan City Spiritual Task Force about Shinnâs reaction.
âHe lowered his head, and he shook his head. He had no control over me,â Parry said. âHe did not approve of my action at all. He said, âMan, you gotta get it together.ââ
Coming Sunday, see a day in the life of Michigan City Police Officer Brian Wright.
The mayor said he has been haunted by that moment ever since.
The City Council voted 5-3 recently to approve the controversial proposal.
Resident Chris Chatfield wondered why the Police Commission was being singled out. âIs there somebody weâre worried about?â he asked.
Resident Rodney McCormick said a 1978 federal consent decree over personnel practices in the cityâs fire department should apply to all city hiring. That decree from the U.S. District Court judge said no applicants should be asked about an arrest record or military service.
âThis is an open order. It doesnât have an ending date on it,â McCormick said.
Council attorney Jim Meyer said the consent decree applied to full-time employees, not commission members.
Doug Ross
Times Correspondent
MICHIGAN CITY â Tax increment financing districts are a savings to taxpayers, City Council members and Redevelopment Commission members were told recently.
The discussion came amid tensions between council members and the RDC.
âWithout TIF, our tax rate would go up. The people in Michigan City would pay a higher tax rate,â RDC President Chris Chatfield said.
The cityâs tax rate would be increased 64 cents without the TIF if all of the projects currently being undertaken were to continue, said Any Mouser, financial adviser to the RDC.
Mouser and Randy Rompola, an expert in TIF law, gave the council and RDC some training in TIF districts.