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August 29, 2010

Anonymous The Kokomo Tribune Sun Aug 29, 2010, 12:37 AM EDT

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We’ve got it good in Howard County. Despite a recession nearing its third anniversary, despite losing a quarter of our employment over the past decade, local governments function well.

Property tax bills are mailed on time. Every resident has access to a public library. Our five public school systems nurture achievement while keeping an eye on spending; the four county high schools were named “best buys” by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

It’s understandable then that some here don’t recognize as needed the recommendations of the Commission on Local Government Reform. But after another year of more home foreclosures, tax delinquencies and unemployment, the recommendations of the committee are getting the attention of locals.

Count Center Township Trustee Jean Lushin among them.

Lushin has proposed consolidating Howard County’s 11 townships into five. The plan divides the townships along school district boundaries. The number of township trustees and board members would drop from 44 to 20.

The 11 township trustees will meet Thursday to determine which will participate, Lushin said. The boards of Center, Clay, Howard and Taylor townships already have adopted resolutions to start the consolidation process.

If all consent, Howard County would be the first in Indiana to start countywide consolidation of township government.

“There would be a lot of benefits,” Lushin said.

Township offices could be located in the Russiaville and Greentown town halls or in volunteer fire department stations instead of private residences. Salaries for township board members would be based on population.

Though we believe the City of Kokomo and Howard County easily could coordinate fire protection, maintain the cemeteries and take care of poor relief, we recognize Hoosiers vote from their front porches.

If their trash gets collected, if their streets get paved and plowed, they believe all is right with the world. Lushin’s proposal probably is more palatable to Howard County residents than the elimination of township government.

We encourage representatives of Ervin, Harrison, Honey Creek, Jackson, Liberty, Monroe and Union to accept Lushin’s invitation and begin the consolidation process.

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