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an alliance of White River Township neighborhood associations and individuals
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    White River Citizens United Position Statements

    Self Incorporation of Center Grove Area

    White River Citizens United has been a supporter and actively involved in the
    Center Grove community since 2003.  In April of 2007, we sponsored Dr. Paul Friga
    IU Kelly School of Business and a study "CG2020 - A Study on the Incorporation of
    Center Grove".  That study considered various options such as maintain status
    quo, annex with Greenwood, annex with Bargersville, and self incorporation.  While
    each option had unique benefits, the study concluded that incorporation could
    improve the safety and condition of roads, could provide upgrades to important
    services such as police, waste & water, could allow more local control over zoning,
    and lead to more green-space and economic development.

    On September 2008, WRCU hosted a community educational forum on "The Future
    of Our Community - Options and Issues".  In addition to the options considered in
    the IU study, the new state legislation permitting the merger of political sub-divisions
    was also explained.  

    While WRCU has never taken a position on any of these options in the past, we
    now believe that this issue needs to be examined again.  We encourage the C4CG
    group in their self-incorporation study, and endorse effort as a positive step in the
    future growth and development of our local community.



    Bargersville Water Rate Increase

    WRCU attempted to oppose the November 2010 Bargersville Water Utility increase.
    It filed a legal case that, as representative of several homeowner associations, it
    had standing to oppose Bargersville’s imposition of massive water and fire
    protection rate increases upon thousands of residents of the unincorporated area
    of White River Township, residents who are unable to vote for the members of the
    Bargersville Town Board that approved those increases.  That case failed.  

    Currently, WRCU representatives are working with area legislators regarding the
    unhealthy power of municipal utilities to impose such rate increases upon users
    living outside the incorporated area of the municipality.

    Bargersville Water Utility Rate Increase-A Constitutional Issue
   

    For more information on this subject go to Township Government

    Township government in WRT has been out of control for many years….remember
    the credit card capers of the early 2000’s, and the failure to even produce a legally
    mandated budget in 2010?  WRT is only one of many Township Trustee offices in
    this state which are poorly run.  Many feel that this outdated, inefficient, and
    ineffective form of government should be abolished.  WRCU agrees and has written
    local state representatives to support legislation to eliminate it.   However logical
    and appropriate elimination and reassignment of responsibility to County control is,
    it is an issue that requires public pressure to accomplish.  

    Please join WRCU in contacting your WRT state representatives to insist that the
    Township Trustee form of government be eliminated.  Your reps can be contacted
    at www.in.gov/legislative-click on links on that page's left side.


    Township Issues In Which WRCU Has Been Involved

  • Wal-Mart planned to build a superstore at Olive Branch and SR 135.  WRCU was
    formed to battle that proposal at both the County and City of Greenwood levels.  
    The project was inappropriate for the area, the traffic situation and in violation of
    county and city comprehensive plans.  Only an organized effort could have been
    successful.
  • INDOT finally decided that SR 135 needed upgrading after WRCU had been urging
    this improvement for several years. We provided suggestions on improving the
    project, offered ideas on access management, and maintained contact with INDOT
    officials as the project was being planned and executed.
  • Johnson County needed to update its Comprehensive Plan and WRCU pushed for
    that to happen.  WRCU members were engaged in public meetings to craft a new
    plan and assisted in preparing a grant request that obtained $100,000 to develop
    it. Greenwood also has updated its Comp Plan with WRCU assistance.
  • When Bargersville wanted to raise water rates by 77%, WRCU fought that by
    testifying at public meetings and ultimately filing a lawsuit…regrettably
    unsuccessful. Now WRCU is working with state legislators to reshape the law so that
    municipalities cannot just soak customers who live outside the municipality.
  • When the future of WRT was being debated, and while Greenwood and
    Bargersville battled over annexations, WRCU commissioned a study by IU business
    professor Dr. Paul Friga. That study clearly defined the risks and opportunities our
    community. Then WRCU organized public meetings so WRT residents could
    discuss and consider the possibilities of governmental mergers, self-incorporation,
    or doing nothing.  Information was provided so area residents could make up their
    own minds.