New WRCU president speaks

Larry Hilkene seeks to expand reach and appeal of citizens group

After four years, two terms, John Dorsett has stepped down from the role of president of White River Citizens United (WRCU). His replacement, Larry Hilkene is an IT professional at Eli Lilly and Company and has lived in Johnson County since the late ’80s. He currently lives in the Walnut Wood sub-division where he serves as the president of the home owners association.

During his two year term Hilkene is going to lead the organization during a period of potentially great change for the township. A few weeks ago Greenwood and the White River Township board agreed to form a committee to lead the study of a possible reorganization of the two areas. It’s Hilkene’s goal to expand the appeal and leadership of the organization during this period. Often criticized as representing only a limited number of neighborhoods, in an interview today he emphasized that individuals, as well as home owners associations, can be members of WRCU.

He discussed the groups efforts to ensure that plans to widen State Road 135 south of the Target store have minimal impact on the adjoining neighborhoods, while providing for increased safety. For example, they have influenced the City of Greenwood and Indiana Department of Transportation to pre-wire for a stoplight that could make access to El Dorado much safer, should a subsequent study support a stoplight at the location.

He also says the group should become more involved in issues such as the current discussion around the Bantam League soccer fields and their impact on the Al Mar subdivision. Overall, his vision is one that broadens the focus of WRCU to include a wider spectrum of local issues which impact more areas of  White River Township.

The Wednesday evening WRCU meeting at which Hilkene was elected was one of the best attended in some time. This is a trend he hopes to encourage by providing more information at the meetings, such as activities of WRCU members and discussions around the latest activities surrounding the reorganization study.

Finally, while he does expect that members of White River Citizens United will participate on one or more of the reorganization subcommittees, he says it’s too early to say that the group has a position on the issue. Much more study and information is needed. He also expects that they will continue to play a role by providing information on process and data that may be helpful in forming a recommendation.

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