The Allen County Board of Commissioners today voted 2-0 to deny a petition for incorporating the town of Harlan.

Commissioners Linda Bloom and Nelson Peters cast their votes after discussing the issue during today’s legislative session.  Commissioner Bill Brown was absent due to a previously scheduled family commitment.

According to the state code governing the incorporation of towns and cities in Indiana, six criteria must be met in order for the Board of Commissioners to approve an incorporation petition.  The Commissioners decided that the petitioners failed to prove two of those criteria:

• That a substantial majority of the property owners in Harlan agreed that at least six of eleven municipal services would be provided on an adequate basis; and 
• That incorporation was in the best interest of the territory involved considering the extent to which another governmental unit can more adequately and economically provide essential services and functions.

Those supporting the incorporation of Harlan filed their petition with the Board of Commissioners’ Office on December 4, 2009.  Commissioners held a public hearing on the petition in Harlan on February 23, 2010.

According to the statute, a petition for incorporation that is denied may not be resubmitted within one year after the date of final denial.