Township Trustees

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By -

Editor, Times-Union:

What is a township trustee? What is a township board member? What is township government?

If you have never had to use the services of a township trustee, you probably don't know what we do. With a contract or not, the township supplements services in your township. There are a lot of people that don't even know what township they live in, don't know what legislative district they reside, don't know their legislators, trustees, councilman or commissioners. Most people live day to day and take care of their own business and pray that our elected officials are serving us to the best of their ability.

Have you ever needed fire protection? Have you ever had to purchase a cemetery lot in a township-owned cemetery or need a burial in a township cemetery? Have you ever used or been to a community building in your township? Do your children belong to a 4-H club in your community or play ball on a youth league? Have you ever needed township assistance for an emergency financial situation? Have you ever used an emergency medical service? Do you know who takes care of your township-owned cemeteries? Did you know that some townships supplement the American Legion to put American flags on veterans' graves in all cemeteries? Do you ever use a township park?

If you said no to any or all of the above, then you don't know what township government does for you. Some items of interest may have been left out because all townships are unique to their own communities and may provide other services above and beyond the ones mentioned. Township board members approve the township annual report, township budget, township contracts and set annual salaries among other township business.

If the state legislators let township government be transferred to the county, you have to ask yourself this: Will the county take care of my community and residents as well as my township trustee that lives in my township or will my local community be forgotten about? Will the county be able to provide the same level of care and services that the local township trustee provides? Do I want the county to control my local fire department?

Our state legislators are considering measures that would place the question of retaining township government on the ballot next fall. In townships where the question fails, the duties of the township trustee will go to the county government. We believe that township government should be controlled locally. Please express to your legislators your desire to maintain your Local Township Trustee and Board.

Kosciusko County Trustees

Julia Goon, Prairie Township, 574-858-2253

Aime Hoffman, Seward Township, 574-491-4546

Ben McKrill, Clay Township, 574-267-4186

Libby Winchester, VanBuren Township, 574-658-9686

Beth Krull, Jefferson Township, 574-658-4890

Molly Bradford, Lake Township, 260-352-2638

Fred Slabaugh, Scott Township, 574-773-4461

Trillia Gearhart, Franklin Township, 574-491-2482

Gwen Ostrom, Jackson Township, 260-839-4535[[In-content Ad]]

Editor, Times-Union:

What is a township trustee? What is a township board member? What is township government?

If you have never had to use the services of a township trustee, you probably don't know what we do. With a contract or not, the township supplements services in your township. There are a lot of people that don't even know what township they live in, don't know what legislative district they reside, don't know their legislators, trustees, councilman or commissioners. Most people live day to day and take care of their own business and pray that our elected officials are serving us to the best of their ability.

Have you ever needed fire protection? Have you ever had to purchase a cemetery lot in a township-owned cemetery or need a burial in a township cemetery? Have you ever used or been to a community building in your township? Do your children belong to a 4-H club in your community or play ball on a youth league? Have you ever needed township assistance for an emergency financial situation? Have you ever used an emergency medical service? Do you know who takes care of your township-owned cemeteries? Did you know that some townships supplement the American Legion to put American flags on veterans' graves in all cemeteries? Do you ever use a township park?

If you said no to any or all of the above, then you don't know what township government does for you. Some items of interest may have been left out because all townships are unique to their own communities and may provide other services above and beyond the ones mentioned. Township board members approve the township annual report, township budget, township contracts and set annual salaries among other township business.

If the state legislators let township government be transferred to the county, you have to ask yourself this: Will the county take care of my community and residents as well as my township trustee that lives in my township or will my local community be forgotten about? Will the county be able to provide the same level of care and services that the local township trustee provides? Do I want the county to control my local fire department?

Our state legislators are considering measures that would place the question of retaining township government on the ballot next fall. In townships where the question fails, the duties of the township trustee will go to the county government. We believe that township government should be controlled locally. Please express to your legislators your desire to maintain your Local Township Trustee and Board.

Kosciusko County Trustees

Julia Goon, Prairie Township, 574-858-2253

Aime Hoffman, Seward Township, 574-491-4546

Ben McKrill, Clay Township, 574-267-4186

Libby Winchester, VanBuren Township, 574-658-9686

Beth Krull, Jefferson Township, 574-658-4890

Molly Bradford, Lake Township, 260-352-2638

Fred Slabaugh, Scott Township, 574-773-4461

Trillia Gearhart, Franklin Township, 574-491-2482

Gwen Ostrom, Jackson Township, 260-839-4535[[In-content Ad]]
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