Dear Editor:
Thank you all for reporting on HB 1232—Fred Swift, Jim Williams, and Tom Kenley.
Through the Hamilton County Reporter, I have learned there are folks with completely different perspective than we have.
We live and farm in White River Township. We have very different values in this northern township of Hamilton County. Some in southern two thirds of Hamilton County may not realize we even exist.
We are a township of farmers with a few crossroad communities. We are one of the two original townships in Hamilton County—White River township and Delaware township.
Our township trustee and township advisory board look out for our needs. One example is a grain rescue tube and training for our volunteer fire department. She approached several farm families who stepped up to bat with thousands of dollars to purchase a grain rescue tube. Beck’s Hybrids sponsored the training for our volunteer fire department and neighboring fire departments. Purdue University presented the training program. No taxpayer dollars were used. They spend much time and effort looking out for our best interests and tax rates. They work diligently to protect us from being taken over by neighboring taxing units, which did happen during the 1960’s.
We are not outdated. This is how we live. Without our township government, there would be no one to represent the citizens of White River Township. Hamilton County Government officials do not have time or the finances to care for the individuals of White River Township. We are not just a group of people who live in Hamilton County—we are White River Township residents with our own needs.
We are proud of our low tax rates, our citizens, our churches, our community building, our fire department complex, etc.
Our votes for a township trustee and advisory board members are the only voting areas where we get to pick from our own neighbors who will represent us. With any other political race on our ballot, we are so outnumbered that our votes may not count in the outcome.
Our township government serves a purpose and those elected are answerable to us, the voters of White River Township.
We have not out-lived our usefulness and we are cost effective!
With reference to the School district superintendents, we used to have a county School Superintendent. That position was eliminated during the 1960’s as a result of school consolidation.
Jeanne Flanders,
White River Township