Oct. 29, 2024 | Updates on Citilink, the Urban Trail + another Parkview story
Hey Locals,
It's a week of follow-ups in Fort Wayne. We have updates on City Council's decisions regarding funding for Citilink and the Urban Trail. We also dish on a second story about Parkview Health's monopoly in The Guardian, this time featuring responses from residents, employers and political leaders across the state.
In Small Talk, we share what to know about the City's 2025 budget cuts and what restaurants are opening, closing and changing ownership around town.
Don't forget: This month, all paid subscribers to The Local get a buy one, get one free deal on all fall coffee beverages at Swizzle Market, or half-off one non-alcoholic cocktail. Did you know we give our paid members a freebie every month at a local business to cover the cost of membership? See what a paid membership is all about with this 30-day trial, and you can get that drink!
Now, let's get started!
NOTE: Links to Journal Gazette articles are marked(*) and may be behind a paywall.
What's next for Citilink and the Urban Trail?
City Council addressed both issues – with compromises.
What's happening?
You might remember: Fort Wayne's primary bus service, Citilink, came before Council on Oct. 8, seeking a special tax levy to address a $2.5 million deficit in its 2025 budget and avoid "deep" 14% service cuts. But Council said it was surprised by the ask and needed more time to assess a solution.
- So what happened? Last week, Council approved a "stopgap measure" for Citilink, where the bus service can come to the City for funding after it has exhausted its cash balance of more than $978,000 and used its $1.6 million Rainy Day Fund down to $500,000. The new budget ordinance also requires Citilink to present a quarterly financial update to Council and to work with state legislators for equitable distribution of state resources.
- What about the special tax levy? Citilink's proposed special tax levy will not go into effect because Council members were concerned about its cost for taxpayers and other entities relying on local income tax dollars, The JG* reports. However, Citilink could seek another special tax levy in the future.
- Essentially: Last week's decision buys Citilink and Council another year to figure out a long-term solution to funding challenges for public transportation in Fort Wayne, while also maintaining most of Citilink's services. Councilwoman Michelle Chambers, D-At Large, said: “While the amendment provides a short-term Band-Aid, it does not address the fundamental issue. Public transportation in Fort Wayne must be treated as a right, not a privilege.”
To learn more about the outcome and what's next for public transit, we spoke with Citilink CEO and General Manager John Metzinger in our deeper dive.
As for the Urban Trail...
You might remember: The City's Community Development division was seeking $239,000 in ARPA funds for a design and engineering contract for the next phase of the Urban Trail along Washington and Broadway, connecting to Electric Works. Some members of Council were concerned removing a lane on Washington for the trail might slow traffic or become a safety hazard, even though City Traffic Engineer Phil LaBrash told Council that Washington was already "over-designed" and removing a lane of traffic would actually improve traffic and safety.
So what happened? After withholding funding for several weeks, Council approved it last week,* on the condition that the City and the trail's design firm, Engineering Resources Inc., conduct more studies to determine whether the Urban Trail should run along Washington or take an alternative route.
We cover more insights on the Urban Trail in our premium newsletter.
- The Guardian published a follow up to last week's investigation of Parkview Health's monopoly in Northeast Indiana, featuring responses from residents, businesses and political leaders. The new story says that since the initial investigation, "dozens of Indiana residents" have complained about big hospital bills on social media and shared stories with The Guardian, ranging from families facing hefty medical bills to small businesses trying to stay afloat while providing healthcare for their employees. One regional employer estimated health insurance costs for his 94 employees have "gone up 300% since 2010." The news is also making its way into Indiana's race for governor with several candidates considering reforms, like enabling the attorney general to block healthcare consolidation that undermines competition. Hoosiers for Affordable Healthcare is also planning to push state lawmakers to pass bills in 2025 that could curb consolidation and high prices from large hospital systems. Learn more.
- City Council approved Mayor Sharon Tucker's 2025 City Budget with $600,000 in cuts and a debate on how to handle homelessness. Council's largest cut was $202,368 for a new Chief of Staff for Mayor Sharon Tucker’s office, intended to create a succession plan for longtime Deputy Mayor Karl Bandemer. Council also reduced, but retained some budget for a new “homeless advocate” in Community Development. Several council members expressed support for the proposed $113,904 expenditure as a move by the City to address homelessness, noting large encampments Downtown behind Matthew 25. Deputy Director of Housing and Neighborhood Services Kelly Lundberg said no one is solely focused on homelessness at the City right now, and it creates a vicious cycle where staff has to take time away from other tasks, like affordable housing; thus, increasing homelessness. Council ultimately reduced the expenditure by $38,000.
Plus: Restaurants opening, closing and changing ownership; a new development Downtown and more. We cover it all in our premium newsletter.
- Attend: a Thinking in Color exhibit by five local abstract artists at Chapman's Brewing Co. at Electric Works on Nov. 1, 5-8 p.m. Allwalls.art is presenting the group show for artists: Cameron Omega, Drece L. Guy, Thomas Leffers, Nancy Fritz and Teresa Vazquez. "Art is available for purchase and can be taken home that evening," a news release says.
- Try: Kuehnert Dairy Farms locally made ice cream, milk and cheese products, available at Sunrise Mart."Their ice cream is absolutely amazing!" an IG post says.
- Dress up: for a "Get Out The Vote" Halloween Costume Party at 2Toms Brewing on Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. The evening includes a Taylor Swift themed bracelet making party with a goal to make 500 "In My Voting Era" bracelets for Indiana Taskforce's Pledge to Vote campaign during Taylor weekend in Indy. Local subscriber and organizer Jessica Bunch tells us: "2Toms will be re-naming their beer to Taylorisms for the night, and we'll be having a costume contest. We'll also have extra supplies for folks to make their own bracelets for the shows!"
What else? We share more things to do in our premium newsletter.
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Have a great week, Locals!
-Your Editor, Kara Hackett