Center Township Trustee (LaPorte Co)
A township trustee is an elected official in the local government of the of Indiana. A township trustee administers a township, which in Indiana is the primary political subdivision of a county, and in common with most other state officials serves a term of four years.DutiesState law requires the township trustee to perform the following duties:Keeping a written record of official proceedings.Managing all township property interests.Keeping township records open for public inspection.Attending all meetings of the township legislative body.Receiving and paying out township funds.Examining and settling all accounts and demands chargeable against the township.Administering township assistance under IC 12-20 and IC 12-30-4.Performing the duties of Fence Viewer under IC 32–26.Providing and maintaining cemeteries under IC 23–14.Providing fire protection under IC 36–8, except in a township that is located in a county having a consolidated city that has consolidated the township's fire department under IC 36-3-1-6.1.Filing an annual personnel report under IC 5-11-13.Providing and maintain township parks and community centers under IC 36–10.Destroying detrimental plants, noxious weeds, and rank vegetation under IC 15-16-8.Providing insulin to the poor under IC 12-20-16.Performing other duties prescribed by statute.Township BoardThe trustee is assisted by a three-member Township Board whose members are also elected to four year terms. Duties of the board include adopting the annual budget, serving as a board of finance and approving township contracts. In January of each year, the trustee presents to the board an annual report showing the receipts, expenditures, investments and debts of the township. The approved report is then published in local papers for public inspection.
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Lisa M. Pierzakowski
(Rep)
What qualities and/or experience do you have that makes you the best candidate for this office?
What is the most important challenge facing township government? What can the Township do to meet this challenge?
What steps will you take to improve services, including fire protection, to township residents?
Are the relief services for the poor provided by your township meeting the needs of its residents? How could they be improved?
What is your opinion on the consolidation of smaller townships into larger ones?
Occupation/Background
I have been trustee for the last 12 years and before that I was a school bus driver for La Porte Community School Corporation
I have been in this office for the last 12 years, bringing more programs and assistance to the community. Working with other agencies to make sure that each person needing assistance is being helped with rent, NIPSCO, or water bills, and so much more.
Right now, it is the funding we will lose with the passage of SB1. Many of our tax dollars will be reduced, and we will need to figure out where to cut the budget. We are working with as many agencies as we can to help those in need. We are also explaining to our clients how important it is to budget so that they are able to pay their bills and not need as much assistance from the government.
I feel that we have great services for our township, and our volunteer fire department is recruiting new members. We hope to add an additional 3 young men in the next couple of months.
Yes and no. I feel that we meet them when they walk in the door, but I hear such sad stories of those in need who feel they are over income or someone else needs the services more. I wish that they would come in for our assistance sooner and let us help them. Also, if people wouldn't wait until they are shut off or the bill gets too high. We can only help with so much, and we can work with other agencies.
I feel that it is necessary for La Porte County, as we have 21 townships. That is too many! We have a few that do not do any poor relief and only write a check to a fire department for their contract. They are paid a salary, along with 3 board members, to write 3-6 checks a month for what? Townships were started to help those in need and to provide fire protection. If neither is being done, they should merge to save on taxpayer dollars. I also feel that some of the smaller townships do not offer services to those in need and are not there to answer the phone during the day when clients are in need.
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