Union leaders at NIPSCO are taking their battle with the utility, over the closing of operating hubs, to the Crown Point City Council meeting Monday night.

The union is accusing Crown Point officials of flip-flopping after the city and the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. filed a settlement with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission in which the two sides agreed that the current operating hub on Indiana Street could close.

The union is passing out flyers saying that City Councilman Bob Corbin and Crown Point Mayor Dan Klein are back peddling on their original stance to fight NIPSCO’s decision to close the hub.

Crown Point officials say they haven’t backed down from protecting the interests of Crown Point residents, pointing out that under the proposed deal the number of area servicemen in Crown Point would increase from five to eight.

But leaders with the United Steelworkers representing NIPSCO employees are concerned that the total electric and gas workers would drop from 24 to 17. They also say it will take much longer for workers to respond to emergencies in different parts of Lake County. And they argue that as the population in Crown Point grows, the area will need another operating center.

“It’s so important for a community,” said Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub, D-Schererville, agreeing with the union leaders. “NIPSCO has no place to go but up with service. It’s so negative and so dangerous and it’s unthinkable to even consider.”

The issue has been controversial since NIPSCO unveiled its plan in 2002. The company has argued that having area service workers stationed from their homes will increase service. The union disagrees, saying it will harm customer service.

“It’s an effort to make sure we provide safe and reliable service,’’ NIPSCO spokesman Tom Cuddy said. “This has put our people and the equipment closer to where they’re needed.”

But Barry Norvell, president of the United Steelworkers union that includes the NIPSCO linemen, said workers get burned out in that position because they’re required to work long days and are constantly on call.

In August, the IURC ruled in favor of keeping the hubs open and against NIPSCO’s plan to close them. However, NIPSCO asked the commission to reconsider its decision saying the IURC exceeded its authority when it ordered NIPSCO to keep two service hubs in Lake County open.

NIPSCO’s original plan was to close hubs in Michigan City, LaPorte and Plymouth but those cities reached compromise agreements with the utility in 2003. Now, the only hub in question is Hammond.

Corbin said city officials reached a settlement with the utility because they believed the IURC’s decision was unclear, and feared the agency could change its mind.

Corbin said its deal focuses on ensuring that first-responder NIPSCO workers are still located in Crown Point.

“These people will not be lessened but will be increased,’’ Corbin said.

The settlement also establishes a community service response and quality committee that is meant to monitor service by NIPSCO.

“What if the IURC changes its decision? It could,” Corbin said. “You don’t know what’s going to happen. Our concern from the beginning has not been to manage NIPSCO. Our concern has been to assure that there is adequate first-responder coverage for service in crown point.”

Union officials worry Crown Point’s decision will harm other communities in Lake County.

“The sad thing is Mayor Klein made a decision that will hurt the rest of Lake County,’’ said Debra Birkholz, president of United Steelworkers Local 13796.