White River Township Trustee
An Indiana township trustee serves as the executive official for a township, responsible for providing essential services to residents. The trustee administers township assistance to individuals and families in need, manages township property and finances, and oversees services such as fire protection and cemetery maintenance where applicable. The term is four years.
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Mark W. Messick
(Rep)
What training and experiences have prepared you to serve as township trustee?
How would you ensure that township assistance is distributed fairly and effectively to residents in need?
What are your plans for maintaining and improving township services, such as fire protection, emergency services, and cemetery care (if these apply in your township)?
How will you manage the township budget responsibly while maximizing transparency and accountability to residents?
What strategies would you use to engage with the community and better understand the needs of township residents?
What is your vision for the future of your township?
This is the sixteenth year that I have served the citizens of White River Township as their elected Township Trustee.
Additionally, while a member of the Indiana Township Association I was elected as the Central Indiana Area Director. I graduated from Center Grove in 1971 with honors and I received a BA degree from Franklin College in 1975. I am considered one of the most knowledgeable trustees in the state. The per capita cost of township services in your township are near the less expensive in the state, all the while providing some the best services to the residents.
All townships of the State of Indiana are required to establish and maintain annually a set of standards for the following year. The Township Standards are administered without any restrictions except that the applicant is a resident of White River Township and qualify for assistance per the adopted guidelines approved by the Township Board. Since I have been Trustee, I have made it a policy that all who call seeking assistance are given the opportunity to have an appointment to apply for Township Assistance. Farther more, during the intake of information for that appointment we will offer other referrals for assistance.
The Township has seven historical cemeteries that are maintained with taxpayer money. During my terms as Trustee for White River Township all the Township Cemeteries have been refurbished and have had a cleaning of all of the existing headstones. The cemeteries are mowed regularly and the fences repaired as needed.
I have in the past and will continue to be a true steward of the taxpayer funds. I have been and will continue to budget for the needs of the office and not anything outside the realm of the duties of the trustee. I will continue to make sure the budget reflects all the needs of the office and not the wants of special interest groups. During my terms of office, I have made available to the residences of the Township the confidence room as a community room for the residents to use for public gatherings; like Boy and Girl Scouts meeting; HOA meetings, Senior Card Clubs, Non for Profit Groups, Sport Leagues, Baby Showers, Birthday Parties, Graduation Open Houses and many other gatherings of the community at no charge to the citizens.
Every year my administration has partnered with the county government to assure the our residents have a voice. As trustee, very year while preparing the budget and standards for Township Assistance, I survey the cost of all the apartments for the cost of renting their apartments thereby creating a fair amount to asset those needing township assistance. I communicate with the area benevolent groups to better understand the needs of the residents. The Township maintains a Blessing Box of dry and can foods for those in need. This is at no cost to the taxpayer because those using our community room donate the food and others items that we fill blessing box with daily. These same groups provide school supplies for students of our elementaries.
This community has always been one of the best areas to raise a family among loving and caring neighbors. The residents have always stepped up when the needs of their neighbors have been known. The flood of 2008 and more recent tornadoes and the raising of money for train crossing gates throughout the township when two young boys lost their lives at a crossing with no gates. They are other examples like the “Friends for Ever” who raise money for smoke alarms after the loss of three young men from the Center Grove area lost their lives at an off campus house at IU. The “Change for Dollar” program that a local church uses to help families in need with over a million dollars over the years. This is White River Township and we love it.
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