Who are the decision making agencies involved in shaping the future San Pierre?
Small towns in America are increasingly governed by regional agencies, each with their own responsibilities, their own jurisdictions, and their own constituencies to whom they are responsible. School districts, library districts, state and federal congressional districts, economic development districts, tourism districts, regional planning districts, all have a significant impact the future of the towns within their boundaries. Unfortunately, these district boundaries are not always the same, and often do not coincide with township or county boundaries. These multiple jurisdictions often overlap, and sometimes conflict with each other, creating a curious condition of conflicting interests guiding the decision-making processes affecting the towns they represent. Some of the important regional districts with a decision-making role in the future of San Pierre are listed below.
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San Pierre sits at the western-most edge of Insiana State House District 17.
House District 17 is currently represented by State Representative Nancy Dembowski (D-17), of Knox.
The areas directly north, west, and south of Railroad Township are represented by House District 20.
House District 20 is currently represented by State Representative Tom Dermody (R-20), of LaPorte.
San Pierre is located in State Senate District 5.
Senate District 5 is currently represented by State Senator Ed Charrbonneau (R-5), of Valparaiso.
San Pierre sits in US Congressional District 2 (shown in blue below).
District 2 is currently represented by Congressman Joe Donnelly (D-02), of South Bend/Mishawaka.
The entire State of Indiana is respresented in the US Senate, by Richard Lugar (R) and Evan Bayh (D), both of Indianapolis.
The US Census has divided Indiana and its neighboring metropolitan communities into something called Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs). CSA are combinations of metropolitan and micropolitan areas that share close proximity in geographic, social, cultural and economic statistical categories. Other governmental agencies often follow these boundaries when determining the allocation of federal funds. San Pierre sits just outside the Chicago-Naiperville-Michigan City IL-IN-WI area, a CSA which straddles three different states.
Another regional entity that span several states is the Virtual Herbarium - a botany project which collects and shares data for 72,000 plant specimens from three institutions with rich Chicago Region collections: the Field Museum of Natural History, The Morton Arboretum, and the Chicago Botanic Garden. San Pierre sits within their botanical region.
The Indiana Department of Agriculture divides the state into Resource Conservation and Development Areas. San Pierre falls within their 'Arrowhead Country' region.
San Pierre is represented in economic development matters by the Northwest Region of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, located in Portage. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development has identified this same region as one of 11 Economic Growth Regions (EGRs) in the state. The seven counties in this region constitute 13.8% of the state's population, or 840,000 people.
The Department of Commerce divides the Indiana into 12 Commerce Regions. San Pierre falls within the boundaries of their Region 2.
The Northwest Initiative is a body of leaders representing government, business and education in Northwest Indiana, committed to making Northwest Indiana's regional economy competitive in the global marketplace. Their activities are coordinated through the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. They divide the region into 3 analysis zones. San Pierre falls within their Kankakee Watershed Analysis Zone.
Regional planning issues in San Pierre are guided by the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission (KIRPC), located in Monon, in White County. KIRPC's Region covers a six county area. Their programs offer a range of useful services including assisting with economic and community development, grant writing and grant administration, providing planning and technical assistance, and acting as a legislative liason for communities in the region. KIRPC is one of 12 regional planning organizations in te state of Indiana.
The North-Judson San Pierre School District actually straddles two counties, covering the western portions of Starke County, and the northern parts of Pulaski County.
The San Pierre Public Library is part of the Starke County Public Library District, which covers all of Starke County except Wayne Township, where the North-Judson San Pierre Middle and High Schools are located.
The State of Indiana Department of Helath has organized 10 Health Preparedness Districts. San Pierre falls in Health Preparedness District 2.
The State of Indiana Office of Tourism Development Program and VisitIndiana.com divide the state into 6 tourism regions. San Pierre is in the North Tourism Region.
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) separates the State of Indiana into 6 districts and 32 sub-districts. San Pierre falls under the jurisdiction of the LaPorte District, and the Winamac Sub-District.
In addition to maintaining the state's raodway system, INDOT is responsible for trail systems - walking trails and biking trails - throughout the state. The Green Moves Program seeks to develop a statewide trail, greenway, and bikeway system. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Transportation and other state agencies has produced a master trails plan to guide the development and expansion of a statewide system of trails to be used for recreation and transportation throughout the state. Indiana has set a goal of providing an easily accessible trail opportunity within 15 minutes or 7.5 miles of all Indiana residents.
San Pierre sits at the crossroads of two abandoned rail lines - the north-south Monon rail line, and the east-west New york Central rail line. INDOT has plans in place to help local communities convert these abandoned right-of-ways into walking and biking trails, as part of a program called "Rails to Trails." San Pierre is also situated nearby two regional trail systems - one connecting the Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Woldlife Area with the Tippecanoe River State Park to the east and the Kankakee River State Park to the west. The other follows an abandoned rail right-of-way north of San Pierre, crossing US 421 at the Kankakee River.
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© 2008 The Institute for Small Town Studies