Griffith is again betting on being able to leave Calumet Township, but it’ll still take the Calumet Township Board of Trustees to pull the trigger.
The Town Council last week voted to write a resolution that calls for it to be reorganized into St. John Township, Town Council President Rick Ryfa said. The council originally thought North Township would be the one to which they could attach but found out before the meeting that because the southeast side of town resides in St. John Township, it would have to be St. John Township instead.
In a “perfect world,” Calumet Township Trustees would vote to release Griffith to St. John Township, then St. John Township would have to vote to accept the town into its fold, Ryfa said.
“St. John Township and North Township are run very well, and we’d do well to be in either,” Ryfa said. “We don’t necessarily expect Cal Township to approve the resolution, but that won’t stop us from pursuing options that become available under the law passed in 2013 to leave.”
The General Assembly in 2013 passed House Bill 1585, which allows a municipality to petition to leave its current township if that township is spending 15 times the average township property tax rate for the proceeding four years.
This is the second time Griffith has tried to put the resolution into effect, Ryfa said. The first time was in 2013.
“At the time, we offered Cal Township an additional $6 million to leave, and that was when we were paying close to $3 million to them. This year, with law that took effect, we’re paying $1 million, but if their tax rate goes up, we can trigger referendum without their approval,” Ryfa said. “The only advantage Cal Township has now is, they can negotiate terms for our leaving if they choose to adopt the reorganization.”
Calumet Township Trustee Kim Robinson said Friday she has no idea how the township board will vote, but she’s “frustrated” that Griffith is still contemplating action.
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“I take great exception about how (Griffith leaders) are concerned about the previous administration’s actions when we help plenty of people in the Mansards and plenty of people in town,” Robinson said. “And now, with this pending House Bill 1065 by Hal Slager where they’re trying to change the calculation the (Department of Local Government Finance) presented because they still don’t believe we’re doing everything they’ve asked, it’s frustrating.
“He won’t meet with me, so don’t talk at me like I don’t exist,” Robinson said. “And if they do vote for the reorganization, it’s going to affect others, including North Township. It’s going to be a mess for everyone.”
Robinson said she’s working with her team going over all the figures again. If the township can’t maintain services without Griffith, the board won’t accept the reorganization. If they can, however, she doesn’t rule out exploring the idea.
“I signed up to work for the people, so we’re trying to get this worked out for everyone,” Robinson said. “I wish we could all sit down and talk about it, though.”
If Calumet Township Trustees vote to accept the reorganization – and St. John Township accepts Griffith into its fold — the town would activate a financial exploratory committee to prepare a referendum for the November election, Ryfa said.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.