State Senator, Representatives Speak At Chamber, KCH Forum
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
State Senator Ryan Mishler and State Representatives Marlin Stutzman and Dave Wolkins spoke in Warsaw Friday during a legislative forum.
The Government Issues Committee of the Warsaw-Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce and Kosciusko Community Hospital hosted the legislative forum.
The hour and a half forum was at KCH's Wellness Center and was attended by approximately 80 people.
Jean Northenor served as a moderator for the forum.
Mishler gave an update on school-funding issues.
He said bills that will be addressed this year for school funding are House Bill 11367 and Senate Bill 309 that aim to allow school districts flexibility to transfer additional monies from locally supported capital project funds utilized for operations.
Current law more tightly restricts these transfers. In return, many lawmakers are asking school employees to follow other public employees in foregoing pay raises for one year in the proposed bill.
Wolkins said the House will be looking at 20 bills Monday, and the session is expected to end March 5.
The House will review a bill on political signs that proposes to outlaw homeowner's associations from banning political signs in their subdivisions.
The House also will review a motorcycle bill for handle bar heights that proposes to require handle bars to be at shoulder height.
The House also will review a gaming bill that proposes not to require gaming boats to have motors or be able to navigate and would allow for dockside casinos.
An attendee asked a question on the status of township trustees advisory boards.
"There will be a referendum next fall to determine if township government needs to be kept. The Senate passed a bill that does away with township advisory boards," Wolkins said.
Mishler said many want to do away with township government, but being from a small community he prefers to keep some form of township government.
Ruppel said he thinks the need for township advisory boards needs to be decided on by voters.
Ruppel said he feels things need to go back where they were a few years ago to allow township trustees to do more because a lot of people have trouble filling out unemployment forms.
The committee will host another Meet the Candidate event April 16 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Center Lake Pavilion, 119 E. Canal St., Warsaw.
