By SYDNEY KENT
Contention has continued between the Jefferson Township Advisory Board and Trustee Larry Heckber over multiple significant issues.
Conversations between the parties on most topics have been intertwined with miscommunication and accusations of misconduct. This was apparent during the two-hour board meeting April 10 where a resolution was still not reached regarding issues with guidelines for financial assistance.
The matter of assistance came to a peak at a December County Commissioner meeting where Heckber requested the commissioners override a decision made by the board. The board had denied Heckber’s request for additional funding for four individuals who were present at the meeting.
The commissioners ultimately granted the request, as the individuals qualified for assistance. They also reprimanded the board’s inflexibility. Though this meeting took place in December, it wasn’t publicly discussed why the board was opposed to the assistance until the meeting April 10.
The board was upset that one household received approximately $7,500 in financial assistance out of a total of $42,000 that was provided in 2023. The board also took issue with multiple circumstances where Heckber had spent money that was not appropriate by the board.
In mid-January, Heckber held an emergency meeting to request an additional $18,000 in township assistance. The amount was enough to cover the deficit in the account and add additional funding. During this meeting, board member A.J. Springer and Heckber agreed to continue to compromise and fine-tune the guidelines.
Last Wednesday, Heckber told the board that he and Karen Rydman, investigator for the township, reviewed the most recent proposal of the guidelines. He said they were not in agreement due to the requirements of Indiana Code.
Board member Tim Baker said he wanted to see a limit on the types of assistance that could be provided, as well as the amounts. Board member David Haiflich agreed emphatically and added that he wanted to limit the duration of time for which a person could receive financial aid.
Baker then proposed people in the township who qualify could receive up to $1,200 in assistance. After a “lock-out” period of 90 days, they could then reapply and receive up to a total of $3,500. Baker also pointed out that Heckber could only provide up to $25,000 in total for the entirety of the township.
“I asked for $40,000,” Heckber said, referring to the total budget for township assistance. “You’re the one who cut the budget.”
“Yes, we did,” Baker said. “We don’t believe in that stuff.”
“Your empathy is commendable,” an audience member said to Heckber. “But how is it the township and taxpayers’ responsibility?”
“We try to get (the applicant) to his job so we don’t have to pay for him anymore,” Heckber explained. “He’s dug himself into a hole. We help him get out of that hole, and then we don’t see him again.”
“I think that’s probably not true,” another audience member said. “The people I work with, they just keep digging and digging and digging. One time? I don’t have a problem with that — but don’t come back.”
Baker stipulated that he would not allow assistance for anyone in the township to pay their mortgage or car repair. He stated that the Indiana Code says assistance can be used for transportation to apply for or accept a job, but not for transportation to or from work.
“We need an executive session,” Springer concluded. “A meeting with Tony Crowell, outside of public opinions.”
Crowell is the attorney hired for the township.
“A meeting to discuss the guidelines?” asked Caleb Chichester, president of the Ossian Police Commissioners, asked. “I believe that has to be public.”
“Well,” Springer hesitated. “We’re going to talk about other stuff.”
“They want to try to get rid of me,” Heckber interjected.
The matter concluded with board members signing a paper that said they did not agree to Heckber’s proposed guidelines. Notice of any further meetings has not been given to The News-Banner at the time of print.
sydney@news-banner.com
