Indiana Supreme Court agrees to hear Zionsville merger case

The Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving Zionsville’s ability to merge with Perry Township.

Governing bodies for the two entities authorized the merger in spring 2014, and voters in each community approved the plan last November.

Whitestown filed the lawsuit in June 2014 to prevent the reorganization and protect its western border, arguing that the two entities couldn’t merge because they were not adjacent to one another.

But Zionsville officials claimed that a 2010 reorganization with Eagle Township allowed the town to assume township powers and borders, making it adjacent to Perry Township.

The state Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Zionsville in June, which allowed the town to add the position of mayor without transitioning to a city.

Jeff Papa, former Zionsville Town Council member, was sworn in as the town’s first mayor immediately following the decision from the court of appeals, and former Perry Township Trustee Sam Baldwin was chosen to serve on the council in his place.

The merger with Perry Township added 15 square miles to the land of Zionsville, for a total of 71 square miles.

Whitestown appealed the decision to the state Supreme Court, which announced Monday it would hear the case. Oral arguments are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 23 at the Statehouse.