Opinion ID: 1981820
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Provision of Equivalent Services

Text: Judge Richards concluded that the fiscal plan and the evidence established that Hobart will provide equivalent capital and non-capital services to like areas of the annexed territory. Supp.R. at 83 (conclusion 3). For the purposes of this opinion an examination of a few select but important services will suffice to demonstrate the validity of the trial court's judgment. We examine briefly the evidence that Hobart will supply equivalent police, fire, ambulance, and sanitary sewer services to like areas of the annexed territory. [4]
The evidence and the fiscal plan establish[] that police protection would be extended to the [annexed area] similar to that provided in Hobart within one year; and $339,748.00 was budgeted for that purpose, as well as $55,000.00 for squad cars, and $350,000.00 for a new fire-police substation in the [annexed area]. Supp.R. at 80 (finding 16). The court also stated: The evidence and the fiscal plan show that Hobart will be able to provide fire and ambulance service to the [annexed area] equivalent to that of Hobart within one year; and money has been budgeted for that purpose. Id. (finding 17). The evidence supports these findings. Wooden testified that she met with Hobart's Police Chief to discuss the services provided by the Lake County Sheriff's Department. She explained that she investigated the current number of police calls in the annexed area and how Hobart could respond to those calls. R. at 1120-21; see also R. at 1209-10 (testimony of April Wooden on response times for police and fire services). Thomas Adams, Fire Chief of the City of Fort Wayne and expert in preparing response time comparisons, testified that Hobart will be able to provide equivalent fire and ambulance services to the annexed area. Adams based his conclusion on the locations of Hobart's fire stations, its fire fighting staff and equipment, and the response times logged by Mr. Leets. [5] R. at 2830-41. He further testified that services will be equivalent as between the Deep Estates area in Hobart and the Green Acres area in the annexed territory, neither of which has fire hydrants. R. at 2841-42; see also R. at 2842-67 (testimony of Thomas Adams on fire and ambulance services); id. at 1209-10, 1120-21 (testimony of April Wooden on response times for police and fire services); id. at 2623-41 (testimony of William Leets on response times for fire and ambulance services). This evidence sufficiently supports the court's findings, and the findings support Judge Richards' conclusion that Hobart will supply equivalent non-capital services to like areas of the annexed territory.
The evidence indicates that with respect to sanitary sewers, many areas in both the City of Hobart ... and the territory to be annexed ... are on a septic system or are served by private sanitary facilities. Approval by State agencies is required before any sanitary sewers can be constructed. The same policies adopted for Hobart with respect to sanitary facilities would apply to the [annexed area]. Supp.R. at 79 (finding 12). This finding is supported by the evidence. Wooden testified that the annexed area will receive the same sanitary systems currently employed in Hobart. She explained: The sewer question in Hobart, there are areas now that are large lots that are still on septic systems. The residential development in the proposed annexation area would be handled the same way. If it was a large lot, relatively low density residential development, we would expect that it either be on septic or that the developer provide the sewer. And that's the same policy that's been adopted in the City. R. at 1123-24. The City also introduced a sewer atlas into evidence, supported by the testimony of William Leets. R. at 2592-97. The atlas showed the areas in Hobart and the annexed area with comparable sewer systems, those without sewers, and those serviced by private facilities. See also R. at 2591-2622 (testimony of William Leets on sanitary sewer services). The record supports the court's findings, and the findings support the court's conclusion that Hobart will provide equivalent sanitary sewer services to like areas of the annexed territory.