The Star Press from Muncie, Indiana • A6

6A MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 THE STAR PRESS WEST LAFAYETTE At least 73 Wa- bash Township residents stand ready to property tax increases if the town- ship board approves a hike Tuesday. The proposed increase is aimed at funding the volunteer department, and any increase would people living outside of the West Lafayette city limits. previous administration had been using cash (reserves) to fund the Wabash Township Trustee Jenni- fer Teising said. been spending more than what been bringing Seventy-three township residents al- ready one remonstrance, former township Trustee Patti Mason said. But Teising said that remonstrance is moot because it was incorrectly Between 2011 and 2018, the township dipped into the cash reserves all but two years, Teising said.

Mason, who left at the end of 2010, said part of those dips into re- serves were planned in her term, ear- marked for Fire Station 2. Other years, the purchase of apparatus required dip- ping into savings. but none of those should have township in a pinch, she said. Mason suggested where the cash re- serves went that were there when Teis- ing took because we hired and have the cash to support Teising said, noting that the department only has one paid at the station on any given day. And then for only half a day.

Teising expects between 800 and 1,000 new homes to be constructed in the township in 2020. twice the number of new homes built from 2011 and 2018, Teising said. Those homes will tax the volun- teer department, which is already has surpassed the number of runs from 2018 year to date, Teising said during a meeting last month. advertised for a $400,000 prop- erty tax increase to fund the service for 2020 and beyond. She noted last month that the township board cannot increase the proposed budget that was advertised, but they can decrease it.

Teising presented three options at last meeting. Option 1: Teising suggested increasing property taxes in the unincorporated areas of Wabash Township to raise $400,000 for its department. The amount would give the township cash reserves to cover six months of ex- penses, which is important since property taxes are distributed in June and December, she said during the September meeting. That proposal budgets for a 2 percent rate of expenses and would al- low the township to hire two additional full-time Currently there are only two full-time Her $400,000 proposal would pro- vide full pay, and retirement funds for the full-time The price tag for the proposal is an in- crease of almost 5 cents for every $100 of assessed property value. A person whose home and property assess for $200,000 would see an increase of nearly $90, while a person whose home and property area accessed at $100,000 would see an increase of nearly $45.

Option 2: The second option raises $200,000 for the township which will allow the township to operate the department at 2019 funding levels, but will not account for or higher expenses, Teising said. This option will provide the township with a six-month cash reserve and will only cover the It does not allow for additional and will not fund health or retirement for the current two full-time It also does not increase the pay. The cost of the option would increase Wabash Township property taxes outside of West Lafayette by nearly $45 a year for an assess value of $200,000. A person with an assessed value of $100,000 would pay an additional $22.40. Both option 1 and option 2 require the township to take out a loan because the funds collected in 2020 will not be distrib- uted to the township until 2021, Teising said.

Option 3: The third choice is not to increase property taxes. If this is the choice, Teising said there will be a reduction of service for the department. But closing a station would in- crease homeowners property taxes be- cause it would downgrade the depart- rating by the insurance compa- ny, Mason said. Currently, the depart- ment has the same rating as a paid, full-time department. Residents prepared to any tax increase Ron Wilkins Lafayette Journal Courier USA TODAY NETWORK Indiana FISHERS As impeach- ment inquiry into President Donald Trump Mark Stenske feels like seen this movie before, and the storyline is getting old.

First, there was the nearly two-year investigation into interference in the 2016 election and pos- sible role in it. Then came the accusa- tions against pick for the Su- preme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, and contentious hearings before a Senate committee. Now questions about dealings with presi- dent and whether that should lead to removal from think they wanted to do it all along, and just looking for another way, another Stenske, a 55-year-old Trump supporter, said of the impeachment proceedings as he walked his dog through a suburban In- dianapolis park last week. think kind of a ploy to help keep the pressure on him and muddy his campaign, his chances to win in Polling that support for the in- quiry has grown since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, announced the start of the investigation last month fol- lowing a whistleblower complaint. But what those numbers show is the sense of fatigue among some Ameri- cans a factor that could be as Democrats leading the inquiry de- bate how to proceed with an election year approaching.

a feeling shared by people on both sides. For Trump supporters such as Stenske, the impeachment inquiry is more of the same from obstructionist Democrats still bitter about the 2016 election. Those who want Trump gone say tough to feel hopeful after watching him the rules and spew divisive rhetoric for almost a full term and get away with all of it. in general has been depressing because sad that tak- en this said Megan 33, a preschool teacher and mother of two who moved to Fishers from Indian- apolis almost three years ago. The question about how to move for- ward with impeachment is of particular concern to both parties in places such as Fishers, one of the fastest- growing suburbs.

The community has more than doubled in population since 2000, to just over 90,000 people. Com- panies have located to the area, and young families have been drawn to its good schools, entertainment and acres and acres of green space. The boom in Fishers and the sur- rounding region has changed the face of 5th Congressional District, a once reliably Republican area that backed Trump by nearly 12 percentage points in 2016. The increased number of college-educated, more liberal residents has given Democrats hope that they may pick up a seat here in 2020, when GOP Rep. Susan Brooks is retiring.

Democrat Joe Donnelly narrowly won the district in 2018, even as he lost his Senate reelection bid statewide, and Democrats think the area looks a lot like the suburban districts that helped them win control of the House during last midterm elections. Trump should plenty of ardent defenders here people like Stenske, who voted for Trump in 2016 and thinks doing a as president de- spite what he sees as re- lentless to sabotage him. But at a park in the heart of Sunblest neighborhood, an upper middle-class area of young families and two-story homes, there were signs of problems for Trump and the GOP. For every sup- porter of the president, it was easy to someone most of them women eager for his time in to end. who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 after supporting Repub- lican candidates over Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, has a long list of things she dislikes about Trump, from his treatment of women and minorities to his inability to admit when wrong.

But even she sees the impeachment proceedings as both a legitimate inqui- ry and a political move by Democrats. think that what happened is im- she said. also think that at this point anyone who sup- port him is now jumping on is how we can impeach him. This is our path to get this done to get him out of Kathrynne Shaw, 28, also opposes Trump but described impeachment as late in the She said Demo- crats should hold for now and pro- ceed only if Trump wins a second term in 2020. something been talking about said Shaw, who lives in nearby Noblesville and works in a distri- bution center.

trying to show that able to do something, but almost like when a toddler throws a tem- per tantrum. trying to do some- thing, but everything tried to do thus far really Shaw supported Vermont Sen. Ber- nie Sanders in the 2016 primary, then voted for Clinton in the general election, and said she believe Trump could be elected president until it hap- pened. These days, she largely avoids the news and peruses Facebook only for the skipping over any- thing political. this point, not much I can do but Shaw said.

Randall Scott, 55, voted for Trump in 2016 and said he also avoids watching TV news or spending time on social media. He reads some but generally distrusts both the media and the infor- mation politicians are putting out. Like Shaw, he feel that following the impeachment proceedings is a worth- while use of his time. feel powerless. not a damn thing I can do about said Scott, who lives in Fishers and owns a business.

not depressed about it. I feel woeful or anything. I think the nature of Voters weary of investigations as impeachment ramps up Sara Burnett ASSOCIATED PRESS Mark Stenske walks his dog, Leo, as he discusses the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump while walking in a park last week in Fishers. DARRON State urged not to close Ohio River bridge during repairs NEW ALBANY Southern Indiana urged transporta- tion department not to fully close down an Ohio River bridge during re- pairs to the span. Local leaders, members of business groups and lo- cal colleges shared their concerns Thursday about the Sherman Minton Bridge during a closed meeting with the Indiana Department of Transpor- commissioner.

New Albany City Councilman Al Knable said local stressed during the meeting that the region cannot a full closure of the bridge, which links New Albany and Louisville, Kentucky. The News and Tribune reports work on an estimated $90 million to $105 million in repairs is expected to begin in early 2021. Indi- options include fully closing the bridge for 15 to 23 months, keeping it partially open or alternating open lanes between morning and evening. Ruling: Records can be withheld in IU 1977 killing BLOOMINGTON pub- lic access counselor ruled that state police can withhold records in an In- diana University unsolved 1977 slaying because they remain part of an ongoing investigation. Ann Harmeier was a 20-year-old IU soph- omore when she was abducted, raped and killed in Morgan County in Sep- tember 1977 after her car broke down along State Road 37 near Martins- ville.

Forty-two years later, no arrests have ever been made. Indiana State Police twice have denied requests by cous- in, Scott Burnham, to release their case records. The Herald-Times re- ported state public access counselor Luke Britt sided with police in an opi- nion Thursday, that the rec- ords can be withheld because part of an ongoing investigation. Burnham said police gone to great lengths to steadfastly ignore and stonewall our Police: 2 people shot in area of large party BLOOMINGTON Authorities said a man and woman were shot in the area of a large party. Bloomington police said an on patrol early Sunday heard numerous gunshots and saw several hundred people ing a party.

and other responders found and aided a 23-year-old man who was shot once and an 18-year-old woman shot twice. Both were listed in stable con- dition at a hospital. Police said chased a man running with a handgun. Gabriel Als- man, 20, who was arrested, was ac- cused of resisting law enforcement, criminal recklessness with a and marijuana possession. Investi- gators said the gun he had was re- ported stolen.

sais there was more than one shooter, but no information on additional suspects. IndyStar and wire services IN BRIEF.