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Ellettsville–Richland reorganization committee names subcommittees, appoints members and approves website vendor
Summary
The Ellettsville–Richland Township reorganization committee formed subcommittees, appointed local residents to dozens of volunteer seats, approved a $1,500 website contract to centralize outreach, and endorsed a postcard mailing to about 7,200 households as it races to produce a draft plan by April 1.
The Ellettsville–Richland Township reorganization committee met Tuesday and finalized subcommittees, made multiple appointments to volunteer panels and voted to hire a vendor to build a public reorganization website.
The committee appointed Jason Bell to the planning and zoning subcommittee after Bell identified himself as “the executive director for the Builders Association for 10 years” and outlined 13 years of industry experience. The motion to appoint Bell passed by a roll‑call vote of committee members present. The group also approved Monique Miller for the governance subcommittee and named Terry Davis, Kurt Hayes and Connor Collier to the water/wastewater/stormwater subcommittee, each motion likewise passing with unanimous recorded 'yes' votes.
Darla, who drafted the committee's working outline for subcommittee duties, said she reviewed state law and model plans while preparing the document. “I went through the Indiana code and looked at deadlines and looked at what the statute, the government modernization act requires with regard to your plan,” she said, presenting a list of recommended subcommittee topics that includes finance, governance, public safety, parks and recreation, roads, and utilities. The committee agreed to treat the draft as a living document and to circulate section assignments to subcommittee volunteers.
Members debated how to handle burial assistance and cemetery maintenance; the committee agreed to move burial assistance into the finance subcommittee while retaining cemetery maintenance under parks and recreation.
To speed public outreach, the committee voted to hire Ben Crum to design and host the reorganization website for a quoted all‑inclusive fee of $1,500. The chair said the vendor will provide a one‑stop site with links to meeting minutes, embedded video and document resources. “Ben Crum has offered to do the website all inclusive for $1,500,” the committee recorded during discussion; the motion to retain him passed unanimously. Committee members said the town will pay the invoice through the usual claims process and that funding may come from local income tax/economic development funds, subject to council appropriation.
The committee also approved a postcard mailing to roughly 7,200 households to publicize the reorganization process and solicit participation. Members edited the draft copy to frame items as goals or possible outcomes rather than promises — opting for language such as “the goals of the proposed reorganization” or “may allow” instead of definitive claims — and designated Scott to approve the final art proof before printing. Unit printing costs were discussed separately from postage; final mailing costs and postage were left to be finalized.
Time and deadlines were a recurring theme. Financial consultants Baker Tilly asked for a draft reorganization plan by April 1 so they could complete a financial impact statement; the committee accepted that timeline and discussed meeting cadence (a standing every‑other‑Wednesday schedule with additional meetings as needed) to meet the deadline.
The committee also confirmed a process for posting materials: a reorganization website as the primary repository, embedded links to recorded meetings on the town’s or KATZ TV’s YouTube channel, and shared document storage for subcommittee use.
The meeting closed after committee members approved minutes from December 22 and January 7. The committee emphasized rapid outreach and asked staff to circulate materials — including Baker Tilly’s revenue projections for SB 1 — to subcommittee participants and the public.
Votes at a glance - Jason Bell, planning & zoning appointment — motion passed (unanimous yes among members present). - Monique Miller, governance appointment — motion passed (unanimous yes among members present). - Terry Davis, Kurt Hayes, Connor Collier, water/wastewater subcommittee — motion passed (unanimous yes among members present). - Approval of reorganization duties and objectives with edits — motion passed (unanimous yes among members present). - Website contract with Ben Crum ($1,500) — motion passed (unanimous yes among members present). - Approval of previous meeting minutes (Dec. 22 & Jan. 7) — motion passed (unanimous yes among members present).
What happens next The committee directed staff to post subcommittee duties and supporting materials on the reorganization website, circulate Baker Tilly’s financial materials and proceed with postcard production and website build. Baker Tilly has requested a draft reorganization plan by April 1 to complete its financial impact statement; the committee set a working schedule to aim for that deadline.
