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Transparency. Accountability. Leadership
Watch Susan McKendry speak on the issues that matter most to Crown Point. These are real meetings, real decisions, and real leadership in action.
Susan McKendry Advocating for Transparency
On January 8, 2026, Susan McKendry spoke at the Indiana State Capitol in Indianapolis in defense of the residents of Crown Point during discussion surrounding Senate Bill 6 proposed by Rick Niemeyer. Concerned that an amendment could be added allowing developers to de-annex property from Crown Point and move it into another municipality, McKendry addressed lawmakers to voice opposition and protect the city’s interests.
Her remarks reflected her long-standing advocacy for Crown Point residents, emphasizing transparency, local control, and the importance of ensuring that development decisions remain in the hands of the community rather than outside interests. The moment highlighted her continued involvement in state and local government issues affecting Crown Point’s future, growth, and taxpayer interests.
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Susan McKendry spoke on May 4, 2026 out against what she described as retaliation and intimidation toward residents who criticize Crown Point leadership. Her main request was for the city council to amend Ordinance 3103 so residents are no longer required to publicly state their home addresses before speaking at meetings, citing privacy and safety concerns in the age of AI and online videos.
She referenced harassment she says residents have faced, criticized the administration’s ethics and transparency, and questioned the role of the city attorney. McKendry ended by saying she is done accepting “lip service” from city leaders and announced her intention to run for office in the next election cycle.
VIDEOS: SUSAN McKENDRY SPEAKING AT GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
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In her August 4, 2025 public comment, Susan McKendry questioned the city’s handling of the donation agreement for land tied to the new southeast wastewater treatment plant. She argued that records showed Edward Hein alone owned and signed over the 44-acre property, yet the city entered into an agreement listing both Hine and LBL Development as donors. McKendry said repeated public records requests failed to uncover any agreement proving LBL had ownership or authority in the transaction.
She accused city officials of failing to perform proper due diligence and criticized testimony given before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission that described LBL as donating the land. McKendry also raised concerns about the city extending water and sewer services to LBL-owned properties outside the city’s tax base, questioning why residents should subsidize infrastructure benefiting developers.
She closed by warning council members to pay closer attention to details and accountability, arguing past projects had already harmed residents through poor oversight.
At the March 19, 2026 Winfield Plan Commission meeting, Susan McKendry spoke against a proposed rezoning tied to LBL Development, raising concerns about environmental impacts, high-density development, and political influence. She questioned whether environmental studies had been done because of the nearby Crown Point wastewater treatment plant and criticized the developer as operating in an “unscrupulous manner” focused on profit rather than residents’ wellbeing.
McKendry also referenced ongoing Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission disputes involving Crown Point and Winfield, arguing developers had spent years attempting to manipulate laws and annexation rules to benefit their projects. She urged Northwest Indiana municipalities to stand together against developers she believed were not acting in the best interests of local communities and said officials should stop accommodating them.
In her April 7, 2025 public comment, Susan McKendry focused on ethics, accountability, and transparency in Crown Point government. Referring to the city’s participation in the Shared Ethics Advisory Commission, she urged council members and city boards to attend ethics training and uphold the standards of honesty, integrity, and public trust outlined in the city’s ethics code.
McKendry criticized what she viewed as unequal treatment of residents during city projects, specifically comparing compensation for property rights-of-way on different projects. She also described an interaction with City Attorney David Nichols as disrespectful and unprofessional, arguing that dismissive behavior from officials damages public trust.
She called on council members to hold one another accountable for unethical conduct and warned that residents are paying close attention to city government actions, saying “business as usual” is no longer acceptable.
In her May 5, 2025 public comment, Susan McKendry criticized Crown Point leadership over what she described as the city’s failure to address unprofessional conduct by City Attorney David Nichols. She said despite raising concerns privately with the mayor and publicly at a previous meeting, she received no apology or response from the city. She formally requested a written apology and asked that Nichols no longer handle her communications or public records requests.
McKendry also questioned the city’s donation agreement related to land for the new wastewater treatment plant, asking why LBL Development received benefits if no formal agreement existed. She connected those concerns to rising water bills and criticized what she viewed as developers receiving favorable treatment.
Finally, she objected to the $35 admission fee for attending the city’s State of the City address, arguing it created a barrier to public access for residents who could not afford the cost or lacked access to livestreaming.
In her February 2, 2026 public comment, Susan McKendry asked the Crown Point City Council to provide more detailed information in meeting agendas so residents can better understand what is being discussed without having to spend hours researching agenda items. She used a rezoning ordinance as an example, saying the descriptions were too vague for residents to easily identify affected properties or issues.
McKendry also spoke about conflict-of-interest disclosure statements, reminding council and board members that even if disclosures meet legal requirements, officials still have an ethical responsibility to recuse themselves from matters involving personal relationships or conflicts. She praised officials who had done so in the past and encouraged continued transparency and accountability.
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In her October 6, 2025 public comment, Susan McKendry argued that Crown Point council members were not being given the full picture before voting on major city issues such as annexations, land deals, and utility projects. She urged council members to delay votes on matters they did not fully understand because of the long-term impact on residents.
McKendry focused heavily on testimony from Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission cases involving the city’s wastewater system. She claimed the testimony showed Crown Point’s current sewer rates were insufficient to fund required infrastructure improvements and that the city did not yet have a financing plan for parts of the new wastewater treatment project. She also raised concerns that residents could face both higher sewer rates and a potential new local income tax to pay for the projects tied to development expansion.
She further questioned whether the city was still dealing with operating deficiencies and bond covenant issues referenced in testimony. McKendry encouraged council members and residents to read the IURC case documents themselves, arguing that important financial details had not been fully disclosed publicly. She ended by acknowledging some improvements in ethics and transparency while criticizing others for failing to meet those standards.