Muncie okays two voluntary annexations, adding to the city footprint

The boundaries of Muncie officially grew on Monday night, as the city council approved two voluntary annexations of parcels that will bring them into the city.  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

Part of Westminster Village was in city limits already.  The organization asked for its whole property be annexed in, so it could receive city police and fire services.  The city council agreed on Monday night.

Fire chief Dan Burford says Westminster Village will likely receive faster EMS service under the Muncie Fire Department.  And with the user fees Westminster Village will pay for future EMS runs, the department could staff another ambulance to the city.

“And the fact that if we can staff that Medic 7 with user fees from this one piece of annexation, that benefits everybody in the city.  That improves our EMS efficiency by 20 percent.

The council also approved annexation of a city-owned parcel near the Farmington neighborhood.  This land was once owned by Ball State University and donated to the city.

In a statement, city communications director Amber Greene says Muncie wants to add new construction homes to this land, taking inspiration from the former Storer Elementary School plot.  That was sold to a developer and is a planned 34-home neighborhood.

Read More: Muncie receives tax credits from state program for affordable housing project

The Muncie mayor’s office has also proposed two non-voluntary annexations.  One in the Farmington neighborhood is being opposed by the neighborhood association.  In previous meetings, its spokesperson said homeowners worry that services they’ll receive from the city would be worse than county services.

Non-voluntary annexations have a longer timeline for consideration and will be taken up at future council meetings.

Westminster Village is an IPR underwriter.

Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host.  Contact her at [email protected].