The Town of Griffith’s plan to leave Calumet Township awaits a judge’s decision and the township’s latest budget.
Town Council President Rick Ryfa, R-3, said at a recent council meeting that Calumet Township’s argument that the Department of Local Government Finance did not hold a rules committee meeting to determine methodology for township spending “appears to have some leverage.” A judge will decide its merit in a March 3 hearing.
The town hasn’t moved on anything since it canceled the Dec. 20 special election because it doesn’t want to incur hefty legal fees,” even though Calumet Township will, Ryfa told resident Michael Reese.
Still, Ryfa said he looks forward to seeing the township’s budget after it’s certified in February. If it’s more than 12 times the average of township budgets, the town will act regardless of what formula is used.
Griffith’s argument to split from Calumet Township is that state law mandates townships keep spending within 12 times the state township average, and Calumet Township is above that mark. But the number is different depending on the interpretation of “average” in state law. Township attorney Tony Walker wrote in November that an amendment to state code enacted in July 2015 requires the current year’s township assistance tax rate to be compared with the previous year’s when determining whether the tax rate exceeds the limit.
Additionally, local government finance officials in September changed the formula to the arithmetic mean from the weighted mean “in response to an opinion provided to (State) Rep. Hal Slager by the Indiana attorney general.” Walker alleges the change was instituted without an appropriate rule-making process, which violates the Administrative Rules and Procedures Act.
Also at the meeting, the council appointed former Councilman Stan Dobosz to its safety board, but deferred making council committee assignments and appointments because it wanted to give incoming Councilwoman Melissa Robbins, R-4, a chance to get up to speed. Robbins was appointed to the council at a Republican caucus to replace Councilwoman Patricia Schaadt, who died last month.
In other business, the town approved a resolution that requires the town’s Parks and Recreation Board get permission from the council whenever it plans to spend more than $25,000 for any project coming out of its 2016 bond issue. Park Board President Tim Diamond said the only expense the park board has submitted so far is $32,000 for drainage renovation for the town’s baseball fields.
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Ryfa told Diamond an email or correspondence prior to a council meeting would be sufficient for the council.
The park bond issue will cover such items as replacing playground mulch with rubberized surfaces; replacing aging and damaged bleachers; replacing maintenance equipment and installing water fountains along the bike trails, Councilman Tony Hobson, R-5, said.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.