In a surprising turn of events, South Bend Mayor James Mueller has turned down an offer from St. Joseph County officials to purchase a 4.5-acre parcel of land next to Ivy Tech and the Juvenile Justice Center for merely $1. This rejection was made without seeking public opinion, despite the deal presented by County Officials offering South Bend tax payers a substantial cost-saving opportunity—$277,750 in taxpayer funds.
Prompted by Mayor Mueller's refusal, County Commissioner Derek Dieter is taking the lead on a new task force dedicated to the hunt for an alternative location for the proposed "new day intake center." In a collaborative effort that includes notable figures such as Kevin Smith of Deluxe Sheet Metal, along with entities like EnFocus, the task force is enlisting diverse representation: County Council members Joe Thomas, Rafael Morton, Amy Drake, and Jeff Rea, the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO. Additional task force participants will be confirmed on the forthcoming Monday. We do know that City Council members have been invited to join the task group.
County officials extended an invitation to Mayor Mueller to attend todays press conference. Mayor Mueller opted not to attend. The officials proceeded to outline several other potential sites for the intake center, emphasizing the need for the Redevelopment Commission to allot additional time for a thorough site selection process. This interval is critical to identifying a location that will not only be viable but also sustainable for years to come. The urgency conveyed by the county officials is a clear appeal to the city administration to avoid rushing the decision-making process. It serves as a reminder to make sure that we are doing what is best for everyone involved. Ensuring that the planned initiatives benefit the targeted residents, affect nearby stakeholders positively, and judiciously utilize taxpayer funds is paramount.
You can watch the full press conference below: