By KEN ALEXANDER
Hamilton County Councilor
As I write about this month’s County Council meeting, I am reminded of my day last Wednesday, which started early in the morning with business meetings in downtown Indianapolis and was non-stop through the Council meeting that night.
Like many of you, my family was on Spring Break last week, but I cut our trip short to get back for Council. My friends often question why I would get involved in politics and I respond the same way: I ran for County Council because I was tired of the decades of the same elected officials, the constant bickering that seems to dominate all politics and to show that you can have an active career and give back to your community. While it can be demanding, it is also very rewarding.
Our meeting agenda this month was light. One ongoing problem is the lack of people interested in serving on our appointed committee positions. We still are seeking a Sheridan resident to participate in the Sheridan Economic Development Commission. Additionally, we had two appointees that have not turned in the required appointee information. The appointee for the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District backed out due to family and work commitments. It highlights the need to get more people interested in participating by advertising these opportunities and creating term limits to allow new people to get involved. This is a measure that I continue to advocate.
If you are interested in serving on a board or commission, please reach out to me at the email below.
You will see the term “144 Amendment” on our agendas almost monthly. These “Additional Appropriations” are a common agenda item that handle employee classification changes or filling vacant positions. These result in department budget plan revisions, many that result in no increase in budget. We had a number of these requests this month, but one such amendment I would like to highlight was added at the end of the meeting at the request of the Auditor’s office. The Council unanimously voted to listen to the request to add a new employee. The additional employee will help pursue federal grants and manage the voluminous paperwork required by the feds. These grants extend the value of our investment of tax dollars in infrastructure and support services. It has been my experience that these roles pay for themselves very quickly which is likely why this position was unanimously approved by the Council.
I was happy to see Westfield Washington Trustee Danielle Carey Tolan in the audience. She wasn’t on the agenda, but she came in to provide an update on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program that she was leading on behalf of the county. This $10 million grant, previously discussed in February, is a tremendous opportunity to provide needed support for many families devastated by the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, Trustee Tolan and her team have received 615 requests for rental and/or utility bill assistance.
While some argued against townships administering this county-wide program, the townships are designed and empowered by state statute to provide emergency assistance for their residents. They are very familiar with the needs. My belief is that government should work together and not duplicate the services and responsibilities of other units of government. The program is off to a good start and I am proud of our county government in supporting this partnership.
The Council ended relatively early, but my day wasn’t over. I received a few calls and texts after the meeting that I needed to handle. We are all aware that politics has become toxic – not because of the things we do or do not do but because of the way we communicate and handle ourselves.
Growing up I can remember participating in debates in nearly every class and I’m not sure they do that anymore. You learned to listen and respect other points of view. The civility in debate was not a goal – it was a requirement. You can disagree without being disagreeable. We no longer respect the idea of a different opinion. That has spilled over into our day-to-day lives and is on display every night on cable news.
The Hamilton County Council changed from a ‘status quo Council’ to one that is actively seeking partnerships, challenging the way we look at things and being transparent with the debate over the issues. In the first few years of my Council role, the Council made quick action of agenda items in what felt like a race to get the meeting over with quickly. What can a new Councilor offer?
The calls I received after this month’s Council were about how refreshing it is to see our Council not have the negativity and bickering that plagues other levels of government. Others mentioned that we seem to have a well-balanced Council with subject matter experts that can offer opinion to help inform the other Councilors. In general, people seem to be happy with the civility that now occupies our Council chambers. Maybe it is examples like this that will get people to want to engage.
Many things are happening in and around you and while your voice may seem to be inconsequential, it is still right to stand up and state your opinion. I have done it on Council and tried to be respectful of others. We have some exciting things that are rolling out on the Council agenda over the next few years. I am excited that these visions are shared by others and we will see them start to become a reality.
When I accomplish my goals as a Councilor and it is time to step aside, I will support another person to bring their fresh ideas to the Council. If I cannot get what I want accomplished within that time frame, what makes me think I can get it done in another 4, 8 or 12 years?
Stay tuned and forward your questions to me at ken.alexander@hamiltoncounty.in.gov.
Ken Alexander is serving in his first term on the Hamilton County Council, representing District 4, which includes Adams and Washington townships, and part of Clay Township.