By DAVE SCHULTZ
and HOLLY GASKILL
Both the Wells County Commissioners and the Bluffton Common Council moved cautiously on approval for Poka-Bache Trail Coalition resolution.
At their respective meetings, the commissioners and the city council delayed final action on the request for the interlocal agreement until next month — Monday, Oct. 3, for the commissioners and Tuesday, Oct. 4, for the council. Both governmental bodies have canceled their meetings during the third week of September because of the Bluffton Free Street Fair.
The reason was similar in both cases — members wanted a review of the measure before it was formally approved.
The Bluffton council actually went a step further than the Wells County commissioners did, approving the agreement unless City Attorney Tony Crowell had issues with it. If that’s the case, he’ll bring it back to the council.
The commissioners, meanwhile, delayed approval because County Attorney Colin Andrews wanted more time to review it.
“I don’t have a problem with (signing it),” said Andrews. “We really haven’t discussed it … There’s nothing jumping out at me as problematic, so I could say (to) approve it as fine if you wanted to do that today, but if people haven’t been able to review it, it’s actually a really long document.”
Commissioner Jeff Stringer agreed with this action.
“I need time to review this before I’m ready to vote on this,” Stringer said. “I’m not saying I’m against it, but I haven’t had a chance to look over this, and I can’t support a resolution saying I want something local until we have a chance to discuss it.”
Presenting the interlocal agreement to both units of government Tuesday were Jen Sharkey, who chairs the coalition; Mike Lautzenheiser, executive director of the Wells County Area Plan Commission and vice chair of the coalition; and Dan Avery, executive director of the Northeast Indiana Regional Coordinating Council.
Avery said organizers hope the trail will be useful and attractive to both younger and older generations in its surrounding areas. The trail will connect four counties — Steuben, DeKalb, Allen, and Wells — through its 81 miles, making it the longest in Indiana.
Right now, Sharkey said, the trail is about 50 percent complete.
Sharkey said they would hope to have a commitment by the end of October to give the task force time to formulate items to present for the 2024 budget planning.
“We, as a community, have such a great need to make sure that Wells County and Northeast Indiana are the premier locations for people to stay, for people to travel to and for people to enjoy,” Lautzenheiser said.
daves@news-banner.com
holly@news-banner.com
