Live from the reorganization meeting

We are covering the meeting live online tonight. I will be updating this post as events unfold. The meeting was scheduled to start at 6:30 however we are still waiting on a few committee members.

6:40pm: As expected the first issue on the agenda is the resolution passed by the Greenwood council in regards to allowing the reorganization committee to explore the Whiteland Road line option for dividing the township. The resolution is essentially the same as the one passed by the White River board. Chair Pat Sherman says they will now have to look at two options. Land use chair Dale Tumey said that his land use committee will create to plans.

Pat Sherman told Mr. Tumey that the Whiteland “line is not” a firm line and the land use should investigate if subdivisions, or other communities along Whiteland Road might like to be part of the reorganization effort. For example Al Mar subdivision and the Bantam Football fields are on the southside of Whiteland Road. The fields are currently township property.

Don Hanlin governance subcommittee report: Provide a list of assets of the city of Greenwood. Members have met with Greenwood council members and those from other cities and they have tentatively concluded that they will recommend a second class city with minor revisions to the current format of the Greenwood city government. He also reported they anticipate no changes in the Greenwood court system.

Eric Kappke reported they would like to establish a separate trails and walkways board under the guidance of an existing board.

Paul Reed – Finance: They are ready to start plugging in tax and revenue numbers and are waiting for 2009 numbers from the state. The are looking at the grossed assessed valued compares to net assessed value and how that would impact reveneue.

Pat Sherman asked that Don Hanlin would investigate using the current redevelopment commission should a TIF district be established along State Road 37. Using the same commission could help keep costs down. He believes that the “corridor” offers great possibilities for office/medical facilites rather than big box stores.

Dale Tumey – Land Use: Looking closely at rural and urban areas and the pockets of each that exist. The Whiteland Road divide means they need to develop two plans and will require extra work.

Forrest Chambers – Public Safety: Still waiting in fire department study on merger. Would like to have seen Bargersville Fire Department be part of the fire district but that doesn’t seem possible now. Currently one White River Fire Department station is in the city limits of Greenwood. Forrest stated he wants the rural area to be part of Greenwood. He believes that Greenwood “has a bad image and I would like to see that turned around”. He went on to list some things to consider that might bring in the rural areas. One proposal is to create an “office of rural affairs” in Greenwood that would allow rural residents a place to voice their complaints. He believes that including the rural areas would generate a lot of tax revenue to the new community shouldn’t result in significant tax increases for the rural residents. He encouraged the rural residents to keep and open mind and state “I don’t want to do any lawsuit”.

6:55pm: Dale Tumey responded to Forrest that there is a lot of resistance and he is happy they have an alternative to work with it gives them more to work with and options that can keep people happy.

7pm: Eric Kappke – The parks department is not setup to maintain trails which is why he suggests that the trails committee be under the department of public works rather than the parks department. After discussion with each organization they both agreed that it would be best to under public works rather than parks.

Paul Reed expressed his opinion that the farmers should be included and doesn’t understand their resistance since the committee is working to look out for their best interest. He asks that they withhold judgment until the proposal is ready to go to a vote.

Infrastructure committee is investigating the flooding issues in Smith Valley area and isn’t sure there is a solution. One person they contacted said “It is low, it is going to flood.” They continue to look at the situat8on and work on a storm sewer system for the area.

Pat Sherman has met with the Sheriff and told him they have had no complaints about the sheriffs department it is an issue of “efficiency” and how the current Greenwood Police Department can expand its services to the new area.

Pat Sherman on New Business: Each committee needs to send in writing a task list status report to him before the end of May. Wants to see unique observations or any surprises, barriers, or other issues they have come across. He will meet individually with subcommittee chairs to discuss their findings in early June to prepare for their July presentation to the council and board.

The second meeting in June, has been moved from the Township office to the schools administrative center on Stones Crossing Road. It provides more room for the breakout subcommittee meetings. There is a conflict in July but future meetings will be held there.

NOTE: When you look a map the Whiteland Road “line” still cuts through the voluntary annexation of Bargersville. The committee had no comment on how that issue would be addressed.

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