Most of the commissioners from Lake County stated recently if Cedar Lake and Schererville agree to drop their lawsuit against the county, they will be provided access to the county’s 911 mutual service. The two sides have been engaged in mediation since early summer, but so far little progress has been made and the two town's continue to be shut out of emergency call service. Attempts have been made during mediation to get the county to provide access as mediation continues, but so far no interim resolution has been possible.

The last mediation session between the two sides occurred this past June after Cedar Lake and Schererville filed a lawsuit against Lake County demanding their share of the state’s more than $2 million in 911 phone fees from land lines and cell phones. Town and county officials agreed to mediation in an attempt to reach a settlement on their own before proceeding with the pending lawsuit.

According to officials from the county, a temporary tie-in for the two towns' into the 911 system is not possible on an interim basis because it is unfair. One official stated, “We, the county, and 16 other unites abided by the state statute. They did not.” County officials now demand the towns must drop their lawsuits completely in order to gain access to the system – so no temporary tie-in is possible during mediation or if the lawsuit proceeds to trial.

The two sides are now waiting for a new mediation date to be scheduled. An offer has been submitted by the towns to the county that can be discussed in the upcoming mediation session when it begins.