Township Consolidation

Advantages Seen to Consolidation
   The trustees of Jackson, Liberty, and Union Townships, as well as some board members, addressed the question which will be on the ballot in all three townships.  That question will ask for a “yes” or “no” on whether the three townships shall be reorganized (consolidated) into one political unit.  This coincides with the Eastern School District.  The meeting was held September 13 at the Greentown Public Library and conducted by the League of Women Voters of Howard County Area.  Greg Kingseed, Trustee of Jackson Township; Linda Grove, Trustee of Liberty Township; and Steve Carpenter, Trustee of Union Township, answered questions from the League and from the audience.     Assistance in the way of utilities, rent, medication, and food account for most of their time spent on official duties, as well as record keeping.  Other duties are providing fire protection, care of abandoned cemeteries, and funeral costs and burials.  The trustees met and composed a proposed budget for the combined area and estimate a 14% decrease in expense.  Instead of three trustees and 7 to 9 board members, all drawing a salary, there would be one trustee and three board members.  The trustees may also employ a clerk and an investigator. 
   All three current trustees favor consolidation.  Kingseed stated that the Kernan-Shepherd Report recommended in 2007 the elimination of the 1,008 townships in Indiana.  He says this plan of consolidating by school district maintains some level of local control while meeting a goal of more efficiency. 
   A similar meeting was held at Northwestern High School on Sept. 20.  Another meeting will be held at the Greentown Public Library at 6:00 p.m. on October 11 for those who could not attend the first and for those who might have more questions.  A second meeting is planned at Northwestern on October 18, also at 6:00 p.m.  
   Scott Deyoe, who attended the first Greentown meeting, expressed his hope that people will become informed about the issue.  He said, “If you are ambivalent or haven’t become informed, it is better that you don’t mark the ballot on that question.  Let those who have an opinion and have researched the issue determine the outcome.”