Loading ...TOWNSHIP TALES
There are a couple of interesting stories this morning out of the townships that are reflective of the current political climate here in Indiana.
A plan is being floated amongst the Indiana Assessor’s Association to consolidate (yes, you read that correctly) all the assessor offices across the state and put them under the Indiana Department of Revenue (IDOR). Under the plan IDOR would have an assessment administrator who would oversee assessments and the state would be divided into 10 assessment districts with roughly the same number of parcels. The Assessors say such a system would allow for greater consistency across the state, result in more fair and equitable assessments and remove politics from assessing. As big a critic as I am of township government, I have to give it to these guys for putting forward a thoughtful proposal and for deciding to get on the train as opposed to being under it.
I wish I could say the same thing for the Lawrence Township Board. The board voted Tuesday night 5-2 against consolidating the Lawrence Township fire department with the Indianapolis Fire Department. The vote was along party lines and opponents said they needed more time to study the plan. Lawrence Township Trustee Mike Hobbes says he doesn’t know what the board’s problem is as they were given all the consolidation information back in July and there have been two public hearings since then. The board says it wants another public hearing in late October. The township had to borrow $1.8 million in emergency loans to keep its fire department afloat and the Daniels administration has made it clear the days of emergency loans to keep township government afloat are pretty much over. I don’t know what is going through the township board’s thought process, but in an age where taxpayers are clamoring for less government, this might be the time to give the people what they want.
And you thought township government was outdated and boring. I agree it is outdated, but never boring.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:35 am
From what I barely understand of the crazy Geist incorporation deal, they are planning to use the Castleton Volunteer Fire Department which I believe is part of the Lawrence Township Fire Department. If they were to consolidate, I have heard that would leave the one Castleton Volunteer Fire Department all by their lonesome. (Although their website shows four stations, so who knows) So maybe they plan to wait and see if they can get some of that fat cash from the Geist folk? Just a wild thought, really have no idea why they would be against consolidation. The City of Lawrence has a separate fire department to make things more confusing.
September 26th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
As one who lives in Lawrence Twp and seen their FD in action, I can honestly say they NEED consolidation. Lawrence has soooo many silly protocalls that make no sense and its staff is not ready to perform in a big city. I have to say it, but Lawrence Twp FD thinks it is operating in Mayberry. Times have changed and they need to merge with IFD.
Lawrence Twp frequently calls in a helicopter medical evacuation, when a drive to the hospital in an ambulance is faster than finding a landing zone for the helicopter. This is NOT Mayberry RFD. This is an urban area with highways and EMS services that mean a level 1 trauma center is FASTER by ambulance than calling out a helicopter, creating a landing zone, landing, triage, taking off, landing again, and rolling to the ER!
Lawrence Twp has good equipment, but management & policies are just not up to date. They need to consolidate with IFD.
As a Republican Lawrence Twp resident, I got a message for that Twp Board: Consolidate the Fire Dept with IFD, so that they can perform the services needed in an urban area.
September 26th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Lest it be overlooked: it is precisely the Republican members of the Lawrence Township Board throwing that partisan monkey-wrench into the fire department consolidation…
September 26th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
The city of Indianapolis just calls “emergency Loans” bond issues and pay for them over many years rather then pay them back the next year.
September 26th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Wilson, maybe the Republican members, saw the police merger and decided Lawrence Township would be better off struggling to make it on their own. Of course they could merge and then standby for an ‘income tax increase’ to pay for it.
September 26th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Wilson46201, I have noticed that you seem to back Demo’s on every issue. I understand being loyal to a party, but I don’t understand anyone overlooking the issues than Monroe has it seems on a daily basis. Maybe some are bogus but most are true. Do you really agree with them not coming to work but still earning over 80K each. And yes that is documented fact. Lying to the media about 300 East or lying on his disclosure form and now being investigated about 2 homestead exemptions. Please don’t insult the people that read this blogwith denial all but the last are fact.
September 26th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
When I said (them) I included Vern Brown who has his own issues on IFD, he singlehanded cost Jim Greeson 3 honest hard working admin staffer’s including Chief of Operations. Thanks Vern for putting the Firefighters first.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
Wilson is banned from this blog, but continues to trespass through the tulips.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
I was watching TV when my central station fire alarm went off for no reason. I notified my alarm company and asked them to cancel as well as investigate the cause. I called fire dispatch and was told they cannot disregard…now, I know why!
Lawrence Twp is padding the run statistics to show a false sense of need and get an enlarged budget!!!!!!
Why else would they refuse to cancel a false alarm run and waste two pieces of apparatus’ dispatch? (I let the commander of the engine know my opinion of them wasting my tax dollars on the run.)
September 27th, 2007 at 8:22 am
All Fire Depts are that way, once we have been dispatched we have entered into a contract by law that we investigate the call. With that said we do cancel all but 2 App. usually an Engine and a ladder. The reason is if I wanted to burn a bldg for insurance purposes I would simply set the fire and tell the alarm co that it was accidental please disreguard the Fire Dept. Lawrence gets credit for the run once it is dispatched even if they disreguarded. By the way the Officer of an App. is not the commander of the Engine he is the Officer in charge of the Engine.
September 27th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
IndyFF: I respectfully inform you that by receiving a call you have not entered into a contract.
September 28th, 2007 at 7:32 am
I as a Chief Officer on IFD have been advised otherwise, when a non trained person tries to disreguard the Fire Dept we have a legal obligation to investigate. But maybe my 35 yrs of Fire experence is wrong. At any rate,I’m sure Lawrence is not risking FF and civilian lives running lights and siren to just pad the numbers. (With all due respect).
September 28th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
indyff: You have policy and then there is law. There is no obligation to respond to my home when I report the false alarm just so you can pad the numbers for the annual report. I do not question your experience at firefighting, however you are incorrect on your legal conclusion. NO CONTRACT exists, sir.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
It’s not my legal conclusion, it is an Order that I have to follow. If we do not follow the Order and we take a disreguard and do not investigate and someone dies as a result you would be the first to sue us. Get a life don’t try to do my job, we deal in people’s lives every day. Go back to sueing McDonalds for hot coffee.