Merrillville Town Court vote face controversy over tie

The fate of the Merrillville Town Court will be decided in a new vote on Tuesday. This comes after a controversial tie vote from May 14 that led to legal disputes. Council President Rick Bella said he will accept whatever the result is, but expects minimal changes in votes. During the May vote, three council members supported reestablishing the court, while three opposed it, with Vice President Rhonda Neal abstaining. Indiana law states that an abstention acts as a "No" vote if a majority is needed. This situation led Clerk-Treasurer Eric January to believe he was denied his right to vote, prompting disagreements and a lawsuit against the council. Lake Superior Court Judge Bruce Parent ruled in December that January should have been allowed to vote, making the count four in favor of the court's reestablishment. The council then sought to challenge this ruling and was directed to reconsider the ordinance. At a subsequent meeting on March 13, January voted to keep the court open, but the future remains uncertain. Council members Bella and Shawn Pettit plan to vote against the court, expressing concern over the legal costs involved. Meanwhile, the supporters of the court, including Councilwomen Shauna Haynes-Edwards, Leona Chandler, and Marge Uzelac, remain committed to their "Yes" votes, believing the court should be given a chance to succeed.