Think about how much work Bargersville now has ahead of them to figure out how they can provide services to the recently annexed SW corner of the township. This annexation more than doubles the size of the town in both land area and population.

Also, we cannot “partner” with Bargersville on anything because we have no legal standing as a community. Who will sign the partnership agreements, who will ensure that those agreements are enforced, and who will represent “us” in court (as the unincorporated area of WRT) should any of those agreements be violated? The township board cannot do this and the trustee has stated many times throughout this process that he will not use township money to sue other entities in the township. Just think about that for a minute because it makes a lot of sense. This is the downfall of being unincorporated. Sure we don’t pay a city tax but we also have no real say in how our area is planned or developed. Without representation I fear we are destined to become the “middle of the doughnut”.

There is only one way we can truly control our own destiny and Bargersville is not the answer.

Let me apoligize as my $78 million & $30 plus million on Marsh should have been thousand…… Wooh, if Marsh paid that in millions WRT would be attractive to all government bodies and our shopping there would be very expensive…….. However, not real attractive to any new business….

Thank you for the information on the voting process. I did not realize it must pass in each political subdivision. So, the votes from Greenwood residents and WRT residents are seperated? With a majority needed in both? That makes sense.

As far as parks, I am certain all companies look at the whole community including parks, workforce education, workforce availablity, schools and many other variables. However, any company large enough to make a difference in the tax base look to tax abatements as one of the most, if not the main reason, for locating or relocating to an area. Most cities seem to always be willing to offer property tax and other abatements over the 1st 10 years in their offer to attract these companies. Therefore, any parks or other taxpayer obligations pay the price at least early on in our building of attractions. Catch 22 I guess, but anytime more costs are needed to attract business the more individual taxpayers pony up to make the community attractive. I’m not against parks or any other attraction but it should pay for itself (Convention Center, Lucas Oil,Conseco goverment footprints) Themajority should not pay for the amenities of the minority unless what we are paying for is an essential need.

It seems to me all government entities and especially those larger in size (controlled either by Republican/Democrat parties)want to make their footprint/mark on the community. The only way they believe this can happen is by spending taxpayer dollars. I’ve never seen the need for more revenue (taxes) go down by increasing the size of government or (price of product decrease) in the private sector by becoming larger.

Unless, I hear a really good reason to merge outside of the extra tax dollars our government will get/spend.Plus,the control we as voters will have than I vote no on any merger. What I know is either party in control loves to leave their footprint and it is too late to vote them out until they have and my taxes are raised to pay for that print.

With regard to the voting, the reorganization statute requires a referendum of all the political organizations involved. The plan must pass by a majority of votes cast in EACH political subdivision. This means that the merger needs a majority of votes cast in Greenwood, AND a majority of votes cast in WRT. If it doesn’t have both, it fails. In terms of why Greenwood would vote against the merger, the answer lies in the future of the township. If the areas annexed by Bargersville are confirmed to be part of Bargersville after all the lawsuits are concluded, then WRT represents more of a future tax burden than benefit due to the high percentage of residential development. Greenwood would be responsible for street maintenance and repair, and more importantly, also for sanitary and storm sewers, which are particularly expensive.

My own opinion is that until we know the results of the ongoing and proposed litigation between Bargersville and Greenwood, we need to wait. The reason for doing something is to avoid being the “middle of the doughnut” which would deprive WRT of the commercial potential of the township. The merger process may well have accelerated this process and put us in a position where we need to partner with Bargersville.

Larry Hilkene
WRT resident