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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Ind. Courts - "Manchester May Nix Town Court"

Yesterday the ILB had this entry, headed "Fremont To Fight State Efforts To Change Town Courts." Today this report by Brittney Elkins of the Kosciusko County Times-Union:

NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester's town court may be entering its final year.

The North Manchester Town Council has reviewed the costs versus the benefits of having a town court.

Attorney Matt Mize told the council Wednesday that, according to a current ordinance, the vote to abolish the town court would have to be done in 2010, or it would have to wait until the end of another four-year term.

Mize told the board that if they decide to do away with the town court, Town Judge Cheryl Gohman would finish out her term and the court would be abolished Dec. 31, 2011.

The board determined the cost of running the court exceeds the benefits of having it. The number of people who use the court has been on a decline. Many violations, such as seatbelts tickets, go to the county court in Wabash.

When asked for input, Town Marshal Jeffrey Perry said, "It's been a convenience for the two retirement communities in town, but otherwise I'd support taking everything through the county."

A proposed ordinance to abolish North Manchester's town court was read at the meeting. The board will meet again Wednesday at 2:15 p.m., at which point they will read the ordinance again. The board will vote on the ordinance at that meeting if there are no changes that need to be made.

The end of this entry on a possible Fort Wayne city court also talked about the need to act before the conclusion of this year.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 16, 2010 01:31 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts