December 2006

Preliminary ruling for Eastern Time
Time issue moves forward,
but not a ‘done deal’ yet

By Karen Clem Fritz

It was almost like opening an early Christmas present this past week for local leaders who have been working with Pulaski County’s time zone petition and anxiously awaiting a response from the federal government.

A clock display in the window of Linkster's The Better Half gift shop in Winamac

But they don’t get to play with it ... yet.

Pulaski County was notified Nov. 27 that the U.S. Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) has issued a preliminary ruling proposing to “relocate the time zone boundary in Indiana to move Pulaski County from the Central Time Zone to the Eastern Time Zone.”

In reviewing the 26-page D.O.T. document, Pulaski County Community Development Commission executive director Dan Dolezal emphasized the word proposal.

“The people of Pulaski County cannot take for granted that this is a done deal,” he points out.

The DOT document, in fact, notes that "…Persons supporting or opposing the change should not assume that the change will be made merely because DOT is making the proposal. Our decision in the final rule will be made based on all of the information developed during the entire rulemaking proceeding."

The DOT has opened a 30-day public comment period on its proposal. The comments submitted should address the impact on such things as economic, cultural, social and civic activities and how time zone changes affect businesses, communication, transportation and education. The comments should be as detailed as possible.

The DOT is also specifically inviting comment from neighboring counties, and counties in other states, that may also be impacted by changing Pulaski County’s time zone boundary.

Dolezal and Rene Burton, Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce executive director, are encouraging businesses, industry, schools, organizations and citizens to respond.

“They (DOT officials) want public comment on this issue,” Dolezal says. “If the county wants to be officially switched from Central to Eastern Time, it is imperative that business and industry leaders make their preferences known to the DOT"

It is being suggested to businesses and organizations to prepare a response on letterhead stationary in support of the switch from Central to Eastern and include an example or two of how this change will favorably impact their organization. The letters should be signed with notation of title or official capacity, and faxed to the DOT

“I would follow up with the hard copy by mail also,” Dolezal adds. Comments should be sent as soon as possible, but no later than Dec. 21.

All communication must include: Agency name: U.S. Dept. of Transportation, and Docket number: OST-2006-26442, or RIN number: 2105-AD65. You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

•FAX: 1-202-493-2251
•Mail: Docket Management Facility
US Dept. of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, SW
Nassif Building, Room PL-401
Washington, DC 20590
•Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
•Federal eRulemaking Portal: go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
The DOT notes that all comments received will be posted without change to http://dms.dot.gov including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading under Regulatory Notices.

“This is a positive step in the right direction,” says Burton who teamed with Dolezal to prepare the county’s second, meticulously-detailed, petition to the DOT earlier this summer. “It means the DOT did not reject our petition for Eastern Time out of hand.”

Local officials were also pleased that Pulaski County’s petition has apparently been separated from a joint petition from five southwestern Indiana counties (Knox, Daviess, Martin, Pike and Dubois) also requesting a switch from Central to Eastern time.

This week’s DOT document noted that it addresses only Pulaski County, as the DOT is awaiting additional information from the southwestern counties before making any determinations on their request.

Pulaski County hopes to have a final ruling issued in February. If the time zone boundary is changed as a result of this rulemaking, the effective date would be no earlier than 2 a.m. EDT Sunday, March 11, which is the changeover date from standard time to daylight saving time.

Any questions on the time zone issue should be directed to Dan Dolezal at: 574-946-3869 (office); 574-946-3852 (fax); or email: ddolezal@pulaskionline.org

Pulaski County Time? Fall Back an Hour Sunday (October 2006) - Click here.
Pulaski County Time (June 2006) - Click here.
Most of county appears determined to observe Eastern Time (April 2006) - Click here.
Pulaski County declares home rule (February 2006) - Click here.
Pulaski County placed in Central Time Zone (January 2006) - Click here.