Pulaski County submitted a 285 page petition (pdf- long) to the USDOT requesting a change back to the eastern time zone. The transmittal letter is dated February 7, 2006.
The USDOT issued its response on May 22, 2006. Paul O’Malley accurately characterized the response as “frosty.”
The new petition follows the Department’s final rule by only a few weeks arid before the County had any experience with the new time zone changes that it solicited. Furthermore, the new petition conflicts with the County’s original petition and other information submitted to the docket in a rulemaking proceeding on time zone boundary changes in Indiana. The County Commissioners now have represented that they did not provide accurate information in their original petition. The new petition does not provide detailed information in support of its position or the sources for the information submitted.
The USDOT response goes on to compare and contrast the new petition with the original petition submitted requesting Central Time. For example, the original petitions states, “Industry receives and ships more goods and services to and from the Chicago business hubs than to any of the Eastern hubs” while the new petition states “85% of their vendors are in the Eastern Time Zone, and 80 to 95% of customers are in the Eastern Time Zone.â€
At the end of the letter we find this:
In a May 1, 2006 teleconference with Departmental officials during a Commission Meeting, the County Commissioners represented that they did not provide accurate information in their original petition and misled the Department in order to strengthen their case for Central Time.
We were disappointed to learn of these assertions and the County’s approach to the time zone issue. Both for legal and policy reasons, the truthfulness of information submitted to the United States government is of critical importance. Indeed, it is legally required under 18 U.S.C. 1001. The Department takes seriously the review and consideration of any petition seeking a change in time zone boundaries and relies upon the accuracy of data and information supporting the petition. Therefore, we expect that the information and data you provide in response to this letter will be both accurate and truthful.
That’s a stunning bit of candor from the Pulaski County Commissioners, if the letter accurately represents the conversation.
The bulk of the letter identifies what the USDOT sees as deficiencies in the new petition and requests specific information in order to better evaluate Pulaski’s request to be placed on the Eastern Time Zone.
How many issues could be resolved by simply sitting down and seeking to adjust the time ALONG each county border,rather than keeping with following county lines? It seems many times only certain areas, often very near the time line, are inconvienced such as the Crane Naval Training area.Put that area back on ET and leave Martin on CT otherwise. Also, in Pulaski County,unite the townships on one time so the school district in Culver doesnt have to deal with 2 time zones.Or just draw the line so Culver is on CT. .Move Odon and Elnora into ET and leave Daviess otherwise basically on CT.
Everything is always such turmoil and emotion when it come to time issues. Some people take it as the most important issue on Earth and others couldnt care less,and they ALL have to work together.