I hope you were able to enjoy. Recording in progress, sorry. I'm already interrupted. I hope you were
able to enjoy the nice day out and we're gonna get started here with our meeting tonight, our reorganization
committee. Thank you for coming. We're going to start with a word of prayer and a pledge of allegiance.
Father, we thank you for this day and time that we
get to come together like this as citizens of a place we truly love. Thank you for all the ways that
you bless us. Let everything that's done tonight be according to your will and the way that you'd have
it to be done. Whatever the outcome of all this, Lord, we pray that your will be done in that. It's
in Jesus' name, for his sake and his glory, amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all. Thank you. All right, the committee has received the meeting minutes from Wednesday,
February 4th. Do we have a motion to accept? So moved. Second. All right, I'll go second.
Can you grab the roll call first real quick? Sure. Sorry, I was... Oh, you mean in attendance? Yes.
Okay, sorry about that. So, Andrew Henry, present. Scott is here on Zoom. William Ellis, here.
Jerry Sanders, here. Kevin Farris, here. Don Durnall, here. And Mike Corman, here. Thank you. All right,
now we can do the minutes. We already had a first and second, so, Andrew?
On the approval of the minutes as submitted, I vote yes. Scott, we don't have an electronic policy for
committee members to attend digitally, so we're gonna count you as absent for today's meeting. So William?
Yes. Jerry? Yes. Kevin? Yes. Don? Yes. Mike? Yes. Motion passes, thank you. Thank you again for coming
tonight. We will have
a period of public comment at the beginning of the meeting and then again at the end of the meeting.
So the beginning of the meeting is just something you would like for the committee to consider before
we even get started. And so I would like to invite anybody here or anybody online to speak now during
the public comment.
It's like we don't have anybody right now, so we don't really have an agenda tonight. So we do wanna
talk about a couple of important matters and other matters that come up or will come out of the discussion
tonight. But I think if it's okay with the committee, we see if anybody, any of our subcommittees would
like to give a report. Is that okay with the committee? Do we have any, yes, Diane?
We have met twice since February the 4th, and we meet again on Sunday at 4.30, have gone over everything
on our, what our objectives were, and we should have, we will submit our report on time by February
27th. And what is your committee's? Planning and zoning, sorry. Planning and zoning. Questions? Questions?
That sounds great, Diane, thank you very much. You're welcome.
Way to stay on top of things. I'll report for the Finance Committee. We've met four times. And we have
had a meeting with Mike, Noelle helped us some, and of course Baker Tilly. And we worked, Baker Tilly
put all our thoughts and information from supervisors and everything together.
But we still need to tweak it a little bit. And we're meeting again tomorrow. So hopefully, are you
meeting next Wednesday or two weeks from tonight? We are definitely meeting two weeks from tonight.
We may meet next Wednesday, depends on how the meeting goes. Okay. Well, if you do meet, we should have
our report ready for you then. And when it is finalized, we will get it emailed to you so you can all
look it over before so you'll be able to comment. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Thanks.
Our subcommittees are on it tonight. I'm Parks and Rec and Cemeteries. We've met twice since I think
the last meeting. We are on schedule to have the draft completed on time and we've got a lovely little
inventory for the park system to follow up with it if you're interested. But other than that, it looks
like we're going to be good.
I'm Michael from the Public Safety Subcommittee. We had our public meeting last Tuesday from six to
seven. It was really supposed to be till 7.30, but with limited attendance, we cut it short. Had some
good questions from those that attended. We'll be meeting again tomorrow in a work session format at 3 p.m.
at the Heritage Center, and we should have our draft into you on time. Just out of curiosity, what questions
It's more just general awareness of how things work currently and how they might work in the future
if this passes. So just a lot of basics, like who responds, when do they respond, that sort of thing.
Thank you. Thank you. Let's pause. I know I said we'd have a public comment at the end.
based on the subcommittee reports, does anybody from the public wanna ask a question, ask a question
or make a comment? Okay. So I know one of the other items that I think the committee would like to talk
about is public outreach. Was that your, that was your item, I think? Yes, I think there's just,
Would that some signs in? Right. They're out back. They're in the back. They're yard signs. We put them
out there. So if you want to take one, put it in your yard. Sure would appreciate it. If you know a
business or somebody else that could use one, we have plenty and we can get more. So please take them.
We're going to try to put some out in public areas tomorrow. And since we're on public outreach, I'll mention,
I need some direction. We'd like to put a billboard up. We think it's appropriate. And utilize one across
from the fire station is the one probably that's seen best with the same information that the billboard
has. But rather than just do it and tell you about it later, I'd probably see if anybody has any thoughts
about it. I think that's a good idea.
I do, too. I agree. We're just going to one billboard. Well, it'll be a big billboard. It'll be up for
a month. And I think the timing may be right to make sure we get the word out. I think it'll have to
be... We could do more, but... Closer to the boat, I think we would have. Go another one? Yeah.
But we can. I think there's some limitations to the funds we can use. But I would hope that
any organizations that donate to put the billboard up, would do that closer to the vote, and I would
suggest the digital one also, by Kinser 45, 46. Okay, and since we're on outreach, I'll say I met with,
I met with the, who's your upland board member? The Indiana Upland Realtor Association. And I met with
them and went,
why we're doing it and how it works. And so I think the word will get out amongst them pretty good tomorrow.
I meet with the building association. I believe there's going to be 92 people there. So I thought I
was meeting four or five people. So anyway, so I think that'll be a good outreach.
The other thing is, when I talk to the Billard's Association, they're having a home show, not this weekend,
but next weekend, and they wonder if we would like to have a booth for free so we could provide information
and answer questions. And so it's on, I believe it's on Thursday,
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Thursday night there's a VIP. So if someone wanted to be there on the
half of it, Thursday night that would be. So really the booth will be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
So I didn't know if anybody was interested. Where would that be? I'm sorry? Where would that event be
held? At the warehouse. At the warehouse, yeah. At no charge. I'm sorry? At no charge. At no charge, yeah.
If we want to put something together, I need to let them know as soon as possible. So between the committee,
if we think it's a good idea and we'd like to have some time, then please let me or Denise know so we
can get back to them. Unfortunately, I'll be getting down next weekend, so. Do you have a timeline for
that? I do not know what the times are. I'll have a timeline, but they need
as soon as possible. Do we have a hand in the public? But I think they mean what time. What time does
it open? Yeah, what hours are we talking? I don't know that. Dr. Sanders. Yes. I'm on the Home Show
Committee, so I could probably help you with the specific. We just actually had a meeting this afternoon.
So it's the planning piece of it. And I'm sure it's all accepted whenever you guys decide, but sooner
or later. But it opens on Friday. It's like 4 to 8 on Friday.
and I think 10 to six on Saturday and 12 to five on Saturday and Sunday. Thank you. On the same discussion
about public outreach, but I want to go back and review, what's the timeline for having the plan finished?
From the subcommittee, it's the preliminaries on the 26th, then finalized on March 4th,
Don't you get it? Baker Tilley would like to have a draft to them by April 1st so that we have time
to revise it before end of May, 1st of June. Okay. And then at that point, is that when we would present
the plan to the public? Well, that's when it would be voted on by the Township Board and the Town Council.
Okay, and then in November, is that, is the, are we asking the community to vote
on the plan or just voting yes or no? Well, it's both. It's reorganization, but it's based on the plan.
Right. If that makes sense. Yeah. So here's my question about public outreach. At some point, we're
gonna start talking about sharing that plan with the community and then having some feedback on the
plan or maybe some... Absolutely. I think that would have to be before the votes. Right. There are public
hearings that are required before
town council and the township board vote on it. Right. How many public hearings are there? Just one,
I believe. So if we got the preliminaries from the subcommittees on the 27th, finalized March, yeah,
March 4th, then while we decide all that stuff, that'd be the best time for the public comment. But
don't we need to come up with a plan for June and November of how we're going to
provide more information to the community so they can make an informed vote? Yeah, might have been grassroots
stuff. This is where it gets tricky and I don't know the particulars of the law, but there's a certain
point in time where no public funds can be used on this effort, very similar to a school board referendum.
So if you're familiar with those rules, it's the same that applies to this. And I think that clock starts
ticking once the state approves the plan or when we submit the plan, do you know?
you do not have that statute with me. But yes, you're correct, there's a time limit. Yeah, there's something.
So I don't know, I mean, we could make suggestions, but we really need this to be a voter-led effort
down the home stretch. I think I have had, excuse me, I have had some offers for help with monetary
and labor, whatever it takes to get that word out, so I can talk about that later, but I have had some
offers to help with that effort.
Are you able to find out exactly what event triggers the prohibition of public funds spent? Sure. That
would be very helpful to know. Yes sir, you want to come up? It's just a question. Okay, yeah, you probably
need to. That'll teach you.
Good evening, Mason Greenberg. I'm a Realtor with Century 21 Sheets, and I sit on the Government Affairs
Committee for the IURA, the Indiana Upland Realtor Association. I just wanted to ask, the February 27th
date was mentioned for the subcommittee to make a decision, and then there was a March date mentioned.
So the subcommittees are supposed to have their preliminary reports
no later than the 27th. And then finalized, a little back and forth stuff that's warranted. And then
the finalized recommendations by the fourth. Then this board starts finalizing everything. So when would
it be possible to start disseminating information
perhaps some sort of marketing campaign to the public? If the public wants input into the, no this is
the process, but if they want input to what we're deciding, now. From now until it's finalized. Okay.
If they got questions or concerns or suggestions or anything like that.
Isn't it our responsibility to make sure that voters know what they're voting for when it comes to November?
Well, that's afterwards, though, after the plan's done. Right. Yeah. Right. Once the plan's done, we'll
be able to put the full plan. Question I have for the committee is, as we approve each subcommittee
plan, should we post that for the public to review? Yeah.
You mean once we get it. Yeah, I mean, once before we say, yeah, that's a good submit that and then
let the public. Right. Yeah. I'm thinking that way instead of us afterwards having to reopen and say,
well, I got this comment and we need to address this this way. We've got the subcommittee report. Then
we have a window for public. We vote on it. But
before we even vote on it too, we'll have those public meeting, but this would just clean it up before
the public meeting, before the final plan. Yeah, so my understanding is we've gotta have it to council
no later than June, was that it? Correct, the final vote will be sometime in early June. When do they
wanna see the plan? Whenever you can get it to them. Yeah, so if we had it,
That should be enough time for everybody to. We'll be getting the final, I mean, the final altogether,
it'll be April. But I mean, do we want to make it as a living document as we get the subcommittee plans
in and present them? I guess what I'm saying is at that point, that'd be too late for public feedback.
Once we say, okay, that's it, this is ready to submit to council. So we need the feedback. No, it won't
be because you have to have a public hearing. Right.
The township board and the town council have to have at least one public hearing. Okay. So it won't
be too late. Okay. So they've got to have it finalized to go to the state by when? By June. By June,
okay. And as to your question if it's too early, it's never too early. The only thing is that people
want particulars as how are the nuts and bolts of X, Y, and Z supposed to work.
We don't, we have a general idea, but we don't have those particulars yet. So that could cause some,
yeah, you're promoting this, what's the particulars? Well, kind of have a grand vision, but if you want
the nuts and bolts, that's what this process is for. Great. Just putting the pieces together, subcommittees
are putting those nuts and bolts together, and then the overarching committee is going to be able to
make sure that it makes sense, it's seamless. Yes.
IURA is very interested in supporting this. I came tonight to see if there was any public opposition,
any reason why we wouldn't want to support it, just making sure we're having all perspectives in mind.
So if there's anyone here with that perspective, I would welcome hearing it, but I also just want to
know that we're interested in
being a vocal resource, a resource in getting this out, and so understanding when and where we can,
that's important for us. I've heard public concerns, and I'm not downplaying those concerns at all,
but I haven't heard outright opposition. I think it's because we don't have a plan, yes or no, to oppose.
So I think right now it's concerns that that's what we're trying to address, the concerns now.
So it doesn't become opposition, if that makes sense. Right, right. So in a government affairs meeting
today, it was discussed the not in my backyard mindset perhaps being an issue. And we were trying to
think, well, on the thinking about education and getting things out as seamless as possible, what numbers
are available to make infographics, to put on these billboards, just very short and sweet snippets,
little nuggets of information, if you will. I don't think we have anything that's. We actually have
a fact sheet. Numbers is what he's talking about. No, we don't have numbers. Because those haven't been
nailed down. That's OK.
But we don't have numbers because we'd be getting ahead of the subcommittees and even the main committee
because it's being formulated right now. There's all kinds of numbers out there, I can tell you that,
but nothing's landed yet. We can be patient. Again, I'm just here to kind of put the pieces together.
Yeah, and I appreciate that. Bingo.
or guidance or suggestions. I think you could contact Mike Farmer, email us. I'll certainly be in touch
with Mike. I've got his contact info. Plus, I like your hat. Thank you. Did they win a game or something?
A little one. I think that's it for me. I appreciate you all. There were a couple questions we got raised
here in committee in that past discussion that I wanted to make sure I have a clear handle on what was asked.
publishing subcommittee reports before we synthesize them into a committee proposal was raised. I really
like that idea because I want people to be able to see the unfiltered report from the subcommittee.
I also wanted to note there have been a bunch of updates to the website, which is elwitsvillerichlandinfo.org.
All the contact info for all the subcommittee volunteers is now listed there. So if you want to contact
any specific
subcommittee volunteer on any one of the committees, all their contact info is now there and you can
ask them questions, give feedback, give suggestions while they're still submitting and drafting their
reports before they come to us for review. So at the end of February we get draft reports, we have a
week to go back and forth with the subcommittees, then they submit final drafts in early March and we
have the rest of March for us to put together a comprehensive proposal
drawing on all those subcommittee reports. I would like, as a committee, for us to publish those subcommittee
reports as soon as we receive the final versions. I don't think it makes sense to publish the initial
drafts at end of February in case we have adjustments or corrections or questions. But I would really
like the public to have access to all those subcommittee reports, unmodified, unredacted, unsynthesized,
so that anybody can look at them and see exactly what the subcommittee gave to us.
and then compare that later with our proposal. That's pretty much what I was, when I said a living document
too, as we make changes, I'd like to upload the changes as close to real time, which we can do. So do
you envision us making changes to the subcommittee reports or are we gonna have a posted draft with
a rev number of our entire proposal where we say, you know, on this and this date, we've now updated,
this is rev two of our proposal,
Here's about three of our proposal. I think that would be good. Okay. Because I think that, you know,
first of all, if we get public comments that, you know, the subcommittees hadn't considered, because
we don't wanna just change it without consulting the subcommittees, I'd like to go back to them and
say, this has been brought to my attention or brought to our intention. Did you talk about this? Or
how you arrived. How you arrived at this conclusion, correct. And then we'll be,
more of an informal process, I think, getting with the subcommittee and kind of like where the House
and Senate gets together and works out all the details. Yeah, exactly, that works well. I probably should
have brought that up. Sorry about that. Your organization fails now because I brought that up now. But
I think that would be a good thing to do and that way they can see the evolution. And we can also respond
individually to them
they say why was this that doesn't need to be part of the plan necessarily but if we get a lot of questions
with that well that might be something worth in in the comprehensive plan okay to explain because I
think Sheridan and Adams did that too on some things mentioning Sheridan Adams the Sheridan and Adams
township complete reorganization proposal is now available it's hosted on the Ellisville website it's
linked correct Ellisville richland info org so you can download
the entire document from their reorganization and look through it all in detail. And we are referring
to that as a guide to understand how they did that. We're not just transposing it onto our situation
because our situation is a little bit different, but you can look at that and get a good sense of what
our reorganization proposal is probably going to include by the time we have our draft done at the end
of March, beginning of April. Exactly. But what's the committee's thoughts about putting
once we get the final draft from the subcommittees, putting that up and discussing that at our other
meetings, our other concerns. Should we have a motion for that? Do we need a motion? All right, I'll
make a motion to post the final draft reports before the final subcommittee draft reports, before we
form them into a final draft plan.
Is that clear enough, you think, Darla? I understand what you're talking about. Okay. Thank you. Okay.
Moved by Williams, seconded by Dawn. Any discussion on that proposal to post the subcommittee final
reports prior to creating a comprehensive reorganization proposal for the council? Okay. I vote yes.
William? Yes. Dr. Sanders? Yes. Kevin? Yes.
And Mike? Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. And Denise, I figure what we'll just do is we'll put them on
the town website and link it to the main website like we did with the reorganization plan. Do you foresee
any issues with that? No. Okay. Any other items that the committee would like to bring up or discuss?
Do you have anything? Well, yeah, I failed to mention that. We're about to print some flyers. That's
an updated fact sheet. They'll have a QR code on it. And once we have them, then we'll put them in public
places like library, post office, here. And actually, they'll be available for your use if you're talking
to some people. And it's nice to leave something with them so it's easier to retain some of the
talking points and it's pretty short and, you know, it's to the point. So we're working on that. They'll
probably be ready in about eight days. Denise wanted me to ask you, did you get permits for those signs?
Hot in here tonight, isn't it? At our last public meeting it was just after the snow and some of the
attendees from the public had not yet received their
small hand bills, notifying them in the mail. I wanted to just pull the public while you're here. Have
all of you received a mailer? If you live in the area of Richland Township or the town of Ellisville,
have any of you not received a mailer about this? Okay. If you have not received one, please come find
me. As soon as the meeting is done, I want to talk to you briefly.
And then the second question was, Dr. Sanders, you talked about the period after the council, after
we submit the plan to state and council approves it, and there's a period of time in which we have to
make sure the public understands exactly what they're voting on, but there's some event that triggers
the point at which we can no longer spend public funds to advertise any of the details about it, right?
And something about elected officials
Well, we can. I don't think we can use town phones or resources to lobby for it. But we can do things
as private citizens. But there's no restriction on maintaining and updating the website during that
period. I would not think so. I mean, I don't know what other updates we would need to put on there.
Because once the final plan's on there, then it's kind of like after the state approves it, there's
no changes that can be made. Correct, Darla?
The only change is it passed or failed. Correct. I mean, once you've supported it to the DLGF. Yes.
And if it's after July 15th, you're in it for the long haul. It's going to be on the ballot in November.
Okay. If the two boards approve the plan. On the question of how we communicate to the public,
Because we have a fairly short window of time from now until we submit our proposal to the council and
the township board, I really want to focus on making sure that the people in the affected area know
as much about it while it's still in draft form before it locks. At which point, we're only trying to
make them understand what it has to be or not. And it's all or nothing, pass or fail. Right. Where we
could have overcome some issue or concern they had now. Yes.
And my goal wasn't to lobby for it, as much as to make sure that, you know, we've probably all gone
to the voting booth. Well, in my day, we call them voting booth. It's probably different now, but. Still
call it that. Going and all of a sudden you have something before you that you're being asked to vote
on and you don't have a clue what it's about. And I just want to make sure that
I don't wanna violate any restrictions as far as lobbying, but I do want people to be able to go to
the voting booth informed. Absolutely. And I've said, and I know there's a couple other volunteers that
have been willing to do that. I will get every door knocked in the entire township in the town of Ellisville
when it comes to, and once we have
brochures and a firm plan, a fact sheet to hand out. So if they aren't home, I'll leave it on their
door, like we do political things. There's still going to be people to say, I don't know anything about
that. But then during Election Day, there's two polling places, we should actually, as members of the
public, be doing the same thing, talking to people as we're going into the polls, answering their questions.
I mean, nobody was required to do that, but I will be doing that. And it's, that's the only way I can
think of that we get, I don't know if the mailer was costly and it didn't deliver. We still had a lot
of people that it didn't. Right. And actually it was a lot less than we thought. And so if you think
we ought to have another go at it,
It's affordable. Okay, I like that. It's less than $2,000. I believe that's what we pay. Including postage?
Yeah. I'd have to look it up, but it was very affordable. We was happily pleased. Okay. So that went
to all residents in the township or registered voters? Well, all registered voters. In the township
and the town.
and I've gotten a couple of names so far and I've looked, I've gotten seven names have not received
postcards. All seven of them were on the master list we sent and addresses were correct. I have no idea
why they haven't gotten them. You're not gonna know this, but 6,500 households in the township. Do you
know how many we mailed out?
6,500, all of them, yeah. So all of them are registered voters? Yeah. Yes. Yeah, I was looking up how
much it costs right now, so. Well, I take that back, you did now. While I was looking that up, if we
have the funds, if it was more affordable than we initially projected to send the mailing out to the
entire affected area, at what point would be the appropriate time to send a follow-up mailer? Where
in the process is the information going to be actionable
and still helpful before it gets locked? I think we need to send it by the first of March. Yeah, by
the time the subcommittees. Right, because if we send it the first of March, they'll start getting them,
I would say between the 10th and the 15th of March. I hope that's not true. I hope it's faster than
that. Well, but at that time, that would still be in the window of when we haven't finalized the plan
yet. Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm getting at.
get it to the public before we finalize it. Are you saying that there are laws permitting us to share
information to the public in October? I mean, yeah, as long as we're not using town or township funds.
That's my understanding, isn't it? Correct, Darla? I'll have to look at this. I don't think there's
like a gag order. I think it's just that at that point in time, I think it's public access, not necessarily parking.
Well, yeah, I mean, if somebody has, you can present the factual plan, you can't say you need to vote
yes on this plan. I'm pretty sure that's correct, but Darla's gonna double check, and if you know anybody
that's done school referendums, it's guided by the same statute, I believe, so, yeah. It was $1,000.
It had to be more than that. 7,200 cards.
Yeah, that can't be the postage too. Because the postage would probably be close to $3,000. The postage
was. Right. Okay, well, Mike's looking that up. I was looking for my postcard.
And when it came, four other mailers at about the same color and same size came in my mail on the same
day. I'm not sure that would be true for everyone else. But what that tells me is that perhaps if your
second mailer needs to look a little different. And the other thing is that when I looked at it, I waited
for something to say
something about citizen of township or citizen of the town, something to that effect. And I didn't see
anything like that hitting me in the face. So I thought maybe you might want to think a little bit about
that as well. Well, the reason we didn't, because it went to the entire township, not everybody. That's
what I'm saying. If you're a resident of the township or you're a resident of the city, something to
that effect, it didn't hit me is all I'm saying.
and I was waiting for it to. And then it talked about the meetings, but it just said the next meeting,
and then every two weeks. I wonder if it would almost be worth it to actually print those days. I have
them on my sheet, and without them, I wouldn't remember. Is this the week, or was it next week? So it's
just a thought. I think we have thought about that. It's just that you get so many words. I know.
And it was, but it was very good. But I'm just saying, I think maybe it was a bad
that situation. 16 point font is probably the biggest disability Americans really most worldwide have
is vision. And 16 point font is the smallest they recommend you put on those things. Yes. Okay.
All right. That is good to know.
No print on blue? Okay. What time do we have to stop? Ten till. Ten till. Ten till. Okay, I want to
make sure I'll give the public some more time. What time was the home show again? What were the dates
and the time?
I just commented on stop time to make sure everyone here understands we have a 650 hard stop because
of other scheduling this evening. So we have about 12 more minutes, 11 more minutes to wrap up anything
else for this meeting. I have something I'll mention. Oh, we got it. Oh, sorry. Go ahead. Go ahead,
Jason. Jason Barrett, I was just making a comment with my body brain that a lot of people are, depending
on their news and information from their phone,
Today, you look at the demographics we have here, and everybody's around my age or older. How do we
get to that younger group that I'm not sure everybody's reading their mail? So I know there's a lot
of social media that we can do that's probably free or cheap. Any way to do that, high neighbor, I'm
not sure that's the best one, but there's a lot of people out there might get a lot of feedback you
don't want to. Maybe it's just a posting of things. But I do think it's a really good way to hit a broad audience
F, we're just trying to depend on the mail to inform people. Excuse me. We have a question on chat.
OK. Jenny W wants to know, is there a specific reason informational postcards are only mailed to registered
voters? Yes, because they're the ones that's going to be voting for this and making the decision.
Thank you. Yes, ma'am.
Hi, this is Final County Council. So I wanted to know about the public question when you get to the
point of having it on the ballot. So now I do this. So I wanted to know about the public question as
far as who's going to craft that, how that process looks. The public question on the ballot. What will
the question be? Because I'm sure you've all had public questions before.
You know, and it's all about. And sometimes the wording. Oh, it's difficult. It confuses people to vote
for something that they didn't want to vote for. Is there a word limit? I mean, who craps it? There's
a statute that suggests what the language is, shall blank in certain name of political subdivision and
blank in certain name of political subdivision reorganize as a single political subdivision. And then
that language goes to the DLGF and they decide whether or not it's accurate, fair, not biased.
but it's basically a sentence. Okay, so it's pretty kind of almost short and sweet at that. Yes. Okay,
thank you. Hi, my name's Lisa McCarchuck. I live in Kelly Heights and I'm grateful that y'all are working
so hard to keep Ellitsville intact. I think we have great public services here.
And part of that is because they're local. And I think it's a great idea to expand the tax base in order
to preserve Ellitsville. But being within the town limits, I'm wondering, I know you said you don't
have numbers yet. There's more than twice as many voters in my understanding outside the town.
limits as in. So and right now my understanding of how the taxes will change. It's an easier sell to
that majority to join Aletsville. It's not going to impact their taxes tax rate as much. And so I think
you know where I'm going with this.
I would hope that as soon as possible, there would be a clear communication to all the residents of
the affected area as to how this will affect their taxes. I've been trying to educate myself about all
this. It's not easy to do.
I only found out about this happenstance through an IDS article last fall. I didn't know about the meetings,
but anyway, I better cut myself off, because I know we're running out of time. I do want to let you
know that if it goes to referendum, that the township will have to have 51% or more, and the town will
have to have 51% or more.
in the township that vote for it versus the town, it still has to be that 51% or more. So it's not because
the township has more residents than the town. You don't have to worry about, because there's more people
voting, that they're going to automatically be the pickers of how this goes. And I guess one last thing would be,
Is that differential in the tax change set in stone already? No, okay. That's still fluid. It's gonna
depend on the services. It's gonna depend on what the plan is and they'll back into it. And I would
say I'd recommend that if anybody is, the stuff I hand out, I would encourage whoever pays for that,
because it wouldn't be the town, but that they put a comparison
before and after and also what your taxes would be if the fire district goes in, which is a real concern
for residents. So you can kind of see the different options. So option A is this, option B is this.
Trying to get it, I hope it can be as simple and straightforward as possible so it's not confusing to
the voter.
and publicize that conduit. Like, if you're always gonna post things in a certain place, just make sure
everybody knows where that is. That's what Andrew's been promoting, the website. That's probably the
biggest place, because that's linking to everything else that we talk about. Our website is
ellensbillrichlandinfo.org. Okay, okay. And if there's something not on there you need, email me, we'll
email us, and I will get it on there. Thank you so much. Thank you, Lisa. Thanks everybody. You might
mention that there's
approximately 7,000 people in Ellisville and 8,000 to 8,500 in the township. So we'd sent out
some information that would have made you thought different, but it's not even, but it's close to even.
And I don't know if there's legal statute that we have to follow on how the vote is done. I know that
the township votes and the town votes, but is that,
a legal requirement that it meet a standard by both. Participation. Or is it a decision we make how
it gets voted upon? Okay. My understanding that's by statute, isn't it? Thank you. Thank you, Lisa.
Okay. We're running out of time. Oh, I just have a couple quick questions. Will this, when taxes are
affected, will this be referendum taxes? I think they call it like when a school is gonna be built and they add
So that it can be above the 1% or 2% limit? No. Right. My understanding that correctly, Darla and Eric,
this just sets the new tax rate for the new entity. It can't go above caps and can't go above the traditional
levy amount. Am I correct on that? It's not like a referendum tax. A referendum tax can go on top of
the current taxes. Right. So this would just reorganize. That's not the way this works. This is just
set a new tax rate.
right? It's not that plus. The reorganization. The reorganization tax rate that goes through. There's
an estimated tax. But it's still going to be capped at the one or two percent. It's not going to be
a referendum tax. I'm seeing Paige back there from Baker and Tilley. She's saying yes, the caps would
still apply. Okay. It's not a referendum tax.
And are there any town council members for Alexville that are opposed to this? None that I know of.
Okay. You had said something earlier that made me think there are organizations that are supporting
this and maybe contributing funds or time or something. Not yet. Not yet. There's been offers to help
with getting the information out and
and maybe even supporting it, but it's just offers. There's no been any formal arrangements. Okay. And
if there are, will there be public information like on the website so that people know? I think everything
I do is public information. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. All right. We have two minutes.
Real quick.
Kathy Waller, I just have a comment. I did look at the Sheridan plan and I was impressed because there
were so many graphics, right? A lot of plans and delineations and explanations of what areas this would
affect and maybe graphs, I don't know. I'm just saying, hopefully, that, I know you're pressed on time,
but to get some graphics out there on the website would be helpful. Okay, there, okay. William, should
you mention that there's a fire territory hearing after this?
Yes, there's a fire territory meeting after this for the town and township boards. Quickly, I just want
to add the finance committee report is going to add so much information that people are asking. It's
going to answer a lot of their questions. So if they can hold on for another week, they'll be in good
shape. I appreciate you saying that. Good. Thank you. I'm Gary Teller Tondo.
I'm sorry if you have any other comments, feel free to contact any of us. Yes, we'll contact us on the
way out. Meeting is concluded. Thank you.