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There are many priorities that my team has been working on at Wabash Township: from direct assistance for residents struggling to make ends meet, to fire protection and ambulance service. I am committed to continue working to make sure that our Township is serving its residents! Below, you will find some of the priorities I am focused on as your Township Trustee.
Our Township has been experiencing rapid population growth since I took office in 2022: Wabash Township Fire Department’s service area in unincorporated Wabash Township is expected to grow from 20,000 to over 30,000 in the coming years. And even as we have barely begun to scratch the surface of that growth, our department’s run volume has increased by nearly 50%, from 1,255 in 2022 to a forecasted 1,900 in 2026. We have worked tirelessly to invest in our emergency services over the last four years: we have increased the numbers of firefighters on shift from one (1) to five (5); we have added ambulance service with paramedics to improve health outcomes for our residents; and we have invested in necessary equipment for our career and volunteer first responders.
Yet, we know that much work remains to be done in various fronts. Our firefighters are responding nearly twice as often as those of neighboring career departments (who earn 15-25% more than they do), which is why we must work to increase staffing and pay. Our northern section of our service area will continue to grow rapidly, which is why we’re working to build a Fire Station that will help guarantee those residents have faster response times.
These are just a few of the issues that we face, which is why I’m focused on delivering on these issues so we can enhance our emergency services in Wabash Township:
Secure additional funding revenues, including accessing local income tax (LIT) dollars that are collected for Public Safety, and already paid for by our residents.
Secure legislation that will enable the Fire Department to establish a sustainable property tax levy rate.
Work with the Fire Department and the Township Board to ensure that this additional funding provides stable fire protection coverage for years to come, by staffing existing and future stations.
Build a station to serve the northern portion of our fire department’s service area.
Increase the number of paid firefighters & paramedics per shift, to ensure that we can respond quickly to emergency situations and have the necessary staff to get the job done.
Improve first responders pay & benefits, so we can recruit and retain excellent firefighters & paramedics.
Emphasize, and fund, efforts to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters that will complement our paid staff.
Although our township has a high standard of living, many in our community find themselves in difficult situations that require assistance. We must take our role in providing assistance to those in need very seriously. Given our limited funding for township assistance, we must work with community organizations and community leaders to help provide for those in need. These are some of the areas that I hope to continue to work on if elected to a full-term as the Wabash Township Trustee:
Streamlining the process for applying to assistance from the Township and community agencies. If we work together, we can effectively cover much of the need in our community, and we can advocate for increased access to resources for those in need.
The Township trustee is responsible for helping provide insulin to those in need in our community. If elected as Trustee, I will work with the Township Board to find a way to help provide insulin to those who are struggling to access this necessary, lifesaving drug.
Applicants for Township Assistance often face extremely difficult circumstances. We must ensure that we consider their applications promptly and help them navigate the complicated web of resources available from governmental and non-profit sources.
Our Township is entrusted with the maintenance of various cemeteries, including the Sand Ridge Cemetery across from Fort Ouiatenon. It is our responsibility to ensure that we maintain and preserve the resting grounds of many of our ancestors and predecessors. These are some of the areas I will continue working on as the Township Trustee:
Working with community partners to preserve the critically endangered Hill's Thistle population at Sand Ridge Cemetery. We must highlight the importance of protecting our native species.
Undertake a review of the state of cemetery headstones, and seek funding for any needed restoration work.
Our Township will continue to grow, and with it the need for Township services. As so, we'll need to work to craft a comprehensive plan for the future of the Township. We must engage in active dialogue with our community, as well as other entities that play big roles in our Township's future. As Trustee, I would work with the Township Board to establish and maintain a productive dialogue with the West Lafayette city government, the Area Planning Commission (APC), the County Commissioners, and ambulance services in Tippecanoe County.
