Reorganization – step one

“Let’s get this show on the road”

With those words Greenwood Mayor Charles Henderson called to order the first meeting of the Greenwood-White River Township Government Reorganization committee at the Greenwood Town Hall Thursday evening.  In less than 30 minutes the first meeting had elected officers, and set a plan for the next meeting.

The mayor reminded the committee to operate under Indiana’s open meeting law and charged them to become familiar with it. He then stated that “if you choose, this facility is available for your use.” Under Indiana law the larger of the two governmental bodies needs to provide the facilities for the meeting, however the meetings do not have to be held there and the mayor’s comments appear to indicate that the meetings will be held in Greenwood and in unincorporated areas of White River Township. The mayor went on to say that the board needed to present a budget and hoped that many services would be donated but recognized that some professional services would have to paid for and he said that he had informed all Greenwood employee’s to provide any information requested and to refrain from serving on any subcommittees to avoid any conflicts of interest.

WRT Board Chair, Mark Messick, addressed the committee and expressed what he saw as the view of the vast majority of White River Township residents that they “want the whole of White River Township incorporated by some means.” He encouraged the board to remember that they are not only dealing it urban areas but the need to respect “our rural neighbors”. He reminded the board that reorganization provides them a lot of options.

The board elected Pat Sherman to chair the board, upon his election Mayor Henderson arose from his chair and commented “I’m out of here, it’s yours!” Also elected as vice chair was Paul Reed, and recording secretary Don Hanlin. The chair then asked that the committee members review their experience and come to the next meeting with and idea of what subcommittees their experience might fit and to also come with a list subcommittees based on several sources, including White River Citizens United’s presentation, and the reorganization efforts of Zionsville and Union and Eagle Townships. The next meeting date has not been set but is hoped to be within the next week to two weeks.

I must agree with Mayor Henderson that this is “one of the most important decisions in the past 50 years or possibly the next 50 years” and with Mark Messick that we want the township united. This is “important” and “united” is good, but not at any cost. This is a reorganization effort; everything is on the table, from the form of the new government to the boundaries. Providing all the services residents need is not necessarily the job of any government body, old or new. I can hire my own trash pickup service, private contractors can fix streets but only this committee and your vote will determine our future.

No related posts.