Jessup: Changes Will Come to South County – Are We Preparing?

“I want things to stay just like they are.” “If you aren’t planning for your future, someone else is.” These 2 adages are heard a lot around South La Porte County. The slower pace and conservative views have served our communities well in the past, but in today’s rapidly changing world, the second statement above must be heeded.

Yes, change for South County will come, and we must prepare for and plan our future, or someone else will.

Our 6 small communities (La Crosse, Wanatah, Prairie Township, Westville, Union Mills, and Hanna) comprise what we call South County. Historically we have been competitors, neighbors, and friends, but seldom partners, sharers, workers together, or even knowledgeable of each other. We are currently trying to change that by organizing the South La Porte County Community Coalition (SCCC).

Representatives of the 6 communities have been meeting monthly for about 15 months trying to find ways to bring our communities closer together so that each becomes stronger.

So what changes might happen, remembering that what happens in Wanatah (positive or negative) affects Union Mills, etc. etc. etc.

• *The Highway 30 Freeway initiative will have a huge effect on us all.
• Major railroad changes could happen.
• State and Federal mandates could force consolidation of schools, libraries, fire departments, townships.
• We are losing our post offices, grocery stores, medical facilities, pharmacies, local establishments.
• Zoning and land use ordinances are constantly changing.
• Use of wells and septic systems could become stricter at any time.
• South Shore Double-tracking and development near Kingsbury will affect us all.
• Large developments could happen---airport, huge industrial farms, warehousing.
• The decision on incorporating.
• Connection to the internet via broadband to rural areas. 

So what are we to do? Sticking our heads in the sand won’t work. We need to plan for our own community, South County, the entire county, and beyond to our region. We invite you to join us at our next South County meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 5 pm in La Crosse. We have no dues and no membership; let’s just meet and talk. We will be planning a South County summit in November to discuss these and other issues, and we’ll invite communities similar to us to come and hear what they are doing to prepare for the future.

Please contact me at any time.

Jim Jessup
PO Box 108
Hanna, IN 46340
219-797-4407
jimjessup@frontier.com