By Carla Hacker
July 28, 2020
Gina Gillman, Clerk/Treasurer
Tim Ripperger, Town Administrator
Town of Brookville
1020 Franklin Avenue
Brookville, IN 47012
Town of Brookville:
To follow the procedures outlined in the ordinance (motion made by Curtis Ward and seconded by Eric Johnson at the February 25, 2020 council meeting) regarding inquiries from the anti-annexation group, I am submitting the following 3 questions to be addressed:
1. When can the taxpayers of the town, surrounding areas, and Reservoir Hill expect a revised map showing an updated proposed annexation area?
Notes / Reference:
Considering the town’s publicly expressed interest in the Hill, and because these questions are forwarded on to out of town attorneys who are working closely with the town to make the annexation a reality, we feel we can ask this question and expect a straightforward answer as to when an updated map can be expected.
As you are aware, the annexation discussion / bid has been ongoing on since October of 2018. On October 16, 2018 during a joint meeting of the Franklin County Commissioners, County Council, and the Town of Brookville, Town Councilmember Curtis Ward presented a proposal detailing the town’s position on the annexation and effectively kick starting the process that we are still involved in today (See excerpt of meeting minutes below.) Although BTC often states that whether to proceed with the annexation is in the hands of the pro annexation group, we are confident that (although council’s involvement in this issue might have been and might currently be behind the scenes) they were and continue to be an active participant in the process to ensure the annexation goes through. Therefore, we feel it is appropriate to ask this question of council and the attorneys.
October 16, 2018 meeting minutes excerpt:
Town Council Member Curtis Ward proposed an area that could be annexed to include 250 properties, that it would be a progression and could take up to three years to provide the infrastructure for Town services. He also addressed the property owners concerns regarding the taxation should their property be annexed, as well as what services the Town would provide to the residents . Mt. Ward said he would like to see an agreement in place between all entities that the County nor the Commissioners would appeal the annexation should the residents wish to move forward. The Commissioners would like to see a map of the proposed annexation area prior to approval. However, both the County Commissioners and the County Council agreed unanimously not to oppose the annexation should the residents proceed to petition the Town[CH1] .
2. In reviewing past meeting minutes, it appears that the feasibility study began approximately April of 2019. With more than half of 2020 in the books, when can we expect the feasibility study to be completed? If there is no estimated completion date, approximately how far along in the process is the study at this time? (The council stated previously it should take approximately 1 year to complete.)
Notes / Reference:
According to the BTC minutes dated January 14, 2020, Tim Brack requested after the map was reviewed in detail, they would like to request that the town consider conducting a feasibility study and then move forward with the fiscal plan if the results of the study came back favorable.
January 14, 2020 meeting minutes excerpt:
Mr. Brack stated that after the map is reviewed in detail, they would like to request the Town to consider conducting a feasibility study on the tax impact of the proposed area and move forward with a fiscal plan should the results be favorable. Should the Town produce a fiscal plan, at that point citizens would be able to add to the petitions or withdraw their petitions.
Months prior to the presentation of the petitions, BTC stated they had engaged / hired companies to begin gathering and compiling information for the fiscal plan. The excerpt below is taken from the April 9, 2019 meeting:
Resident Randy Powell asked if the golf course purchase was moving forward. President Blitz stated that he, Council Member Ward, Town Attorney Tammy Davis , had a meeting with an engineer and financial planner regarding the proposed annexation. The engineer was working on the contiguity study for annexation, said financial planner is working to obtain a parcel list to get an idea of tax impact, as well as expenses in terms of infrastructure and improvements for a fiscal plan.
Excerpt from March 26, 2019 meeting minutes:
At this point Council, heard questions from residents in attendance and briefly explained some of the process. Annexation is definite; however, Council is preparing with the next steps to create a fiscal plan, which will take approximately one year to complete.
3. Is it still true that the only way the town will annex is if the majority of residents within the annexation map want it and if the town purchases the golf course?
Notes:
This is a question we get most often from residents just wanting to make sure nothing has changed and BTC is still of the same mindset.
Thank you for your time in answering the questions many of us have on our minds. As a courtesy to all who may not follow the BTC meetings (since these questions will not appear in council’s meeting minutes), we will be sharing the questions and your answers with the local news media, specifically the Brookville Democrat and American, Whitewater Valley News and Sports, and the Franklin County Observer. We will also share on our FB page.
Sincerely,
Carla S. Hacker, Brookville