Comments on Advance Indiana™: Ballard's Township Fire Department Grab Bill Fails

This isn't a power grab on Ballard's part,...

2014-03-04T17:28:47.792-05:00

This isn't a power grab on Ballard's part, the firefighters have been trying to get this done for years because they are subjected to petty politics and unsafe working environments in the townships. IFD isn't perfect but it's much better than these townships run by self interested township trustees and their cronies.

So instead the township taxpayers get to continue ...

2014-02-28T09:24:10.104-05:00

So instead the township taxpayers get to continue to pay, in some cases, more than double the IFD rate for fire service. And Indianapolis keeps 4 separate fire departments(with their bloated admins and budgets)in the city limits. What a deal.

The Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform ...

2014-02-28T05:55:33.058-05:00

The Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform recommended the elimination of Township Government, a high cost and unnecessary layer of government, known best for corruption, waste, and nepotism.

There is NO need for any Township government in a Consolidated city!

This bill would not have FORCED the townships to c...

2014-02-27T12:56:46.229-05:00

This bill would not have FORCED the townships to consolidate.
There are still laws on the book from a couple of years ago that would allow the townships to voluntarily consolidate after negotiating terms, etc.
This was another lie that opponents testified to yesterday.

I know of one senator who testified that he had no...

2014-02-27T12:54:58.768-05:00

I know of one senator who testified that he had not been contacted by ONE person concerning this bill.
I also know that I personally emailed that senator at his "official" email address stating why I was for the bill and he should vote "no."

Gary your information regarding Washington Townshi...

2014-02-27T10:54:56.033-05:00

Gary your information regarding Washington Township is only half right.
They did move a ladder truck to Lawrence.
BUT didn't close any fire stations.
They threw Ms. Scales under the bus for defending her district intrest.

I'm not defending the spending policies of tow...

2014-02-27T07:26:13.761-05:00

I'm not defending the spending policies of township governments. I just think it should be clear to people that consolidation has become short-hand for streamlining and efficiency when the facts are quite clear that the city-county government has misspent billions of tax dollars on corporate welfare handouts that the township governments can't be accused of doing. End the practice of financing campaign contributors' real estate development projects and my view of consolidation might change accordingly. Additionally, the voters in those townships have elected their township officials to run township government. If they want to consolidate, let them elect township officials who support consolidation as has occurred in the other townships where consolidation has already taken place. Right after Washington Township's fire department merged, they closed a fire station and a ladder company. This administration then tried to extort votes from a city councilor in order to get the ladder company returned to her district.

One west side fire chief and 4 of his top paid emp...

2014-02-27T06:19:20.030-05:00

One west side fire chief and 4 of his top paid employees make well over $100,000 yearly plus a car, pension, phone, puts each Employee near $150,000 each. These figures were recently published in the Star's public notices. These employees were overtime exempt!
My figures might be a little high, but I'm not far off
Gary this looks more like status quo from Township Government rather than a power grab.

:):):) Watched an accident on 71st and Zionsville ...

2014-02-26T22:34:42.256-05:00

:):):) Watched an accident on 71st and Zionsville Road on Sat am take over an hour for response and two hours to clean up...Consolidation fears? This is great news for many first responders and firefighters whom are the real warriors here in Indy. Celebrate...But also watch the politics of cars on loan. salaries and more. Whom can they trust within with the politics here?

...news like this will probably require Ballard to...

2014-02-26T20:10:40.033-05:00

...news like this will probably require Ballard to go on another junket immediately.