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In a continued attempt to scare unincorporated Geist residents into rolling over and accepting the Town of Fishers’ annexation ordinances, a flyer was mailed out by town officials entitled “Fire Sale! Don’t Sell Your Neighbors Short.”
In short, the flyer is designed to sway unincorporated residents from signing the remonstrance petition being circulated by the Geist United Opposition. Touting the Fishers Fire Department’s “120 career firefighters and EMTs”, town officials believe that unincorporated residents should not sign the petitions and “help bring about a united Geist and Fishers.”
Fire protection has been paid by Geist residents to the Town of Fishers for years, and no doubt, is world class. It should be, Geist residents pay almost 5 times as much for fire protection as Fishers residents do thanks to the Fall Creek Township Trustee Terry Michaels. In fact, Michaels has done such a good job working himself out of a job by rolling over to the Town of Fishers, he has to run for the Indiana Senate against Bev Gard (R) to try to stay employed.
A group of residents were able to secure a quote and a letter of intent from the Lawrence Fire Department to provide fire services to the unincorporated areas around Geist. Early estimates put their price at $200,000 less per year than the current Fishers contract. Why hasn’t Terry Michaels asked for a competitive bid? Why doesn’t he want to represent his constituents instead of his neighboring Town of Fishers?
Meanwhile, residents have over 60 days left to sign the remonstrance petitions mailed out on January 28th. So far, one area has already passed the 65% signature level, the other two are very close to the super majority needed to take the case to court. Once in court, lawyers for the GUO feel very confident that the annexation will be disallowed based on article 13 (e) of Indiana Code 36-4-3, which coincidently was designed to bail out Fort Wayne from bankruptcy in the late 1990′s.
Keep the faith and don’t cave to the fear mongering flyers that Fishers is spooning out. We still have a good case and Fishers knows that. If they were confident, why would they be trying so hard to sway people away from signing a petition?
Let's call it a Boy-Scott in honor of their fearless leader, Scott Faultless.
GEIST, SOUTHWEST CLAY, AND HOME PLACE RESIDENTS:
If you’re tired of Fishers’ bullying- go after their legal representation…DO NOT hire Bose, McKinney or Church’s legal firms. There’s plenty of hiring power in these 3 unincorporated areas. DO NOT USE THESE GUYS THAT ARE HELPING FISHERS. Show Fishers and Friends where the real power is- with the almighty dollar. BOYCOTT BOYCOTT BOYCOTT. Put your power to good. PASS IT ON!
I got this today and chuckled. And then I thought, I wonder how much money this mailer cost residents of Fishers. Couldn’t that money be better spent?
Did anyone notice that the flyer doesn’t even have a Fisfer fire truck in the picture. They had to hire someone to take a picture of a fire truck or use stock art purchased by the PR firm they hired, more Fishers tax payer money going to waste.
Speaking of Terry Michael he did call the Lawrence Fire Department about a quote, told them not a say a word and would get back to them and then never called back. So he can say I called but they didn’t provide a quote. Just so all of you know what kind of a guy Terry is. He tapes all phone calls without telling you he is doing it and he tapes most people visiting his office without telling you. He claims to be a trusted official. I wonder – thrusted by Fishers and not trusted by the people who have elected him.
To my knowledge, this is the first public communication from the Town of Fishers since the annexation ordinances were passed in January. And what do we get? “Welcome to Fishers”? “This is your new Town of Fishers”? “Can’t we all just get along?” No, instead from Fishers we get some kind of weird, vague threat. I guess it’s a threat. The more I look at this thing, the less I understand. What’s their real point? What informed choice are we making? They already annexed us! The flyer says “Have a voice.” Fishers hasn’t listened to the wishes of the people of Geist. This is just a poorly executed bit of fear-mongering.
The fire contract between Fishers and Fall Creek Township is paid up at least to the end of 2008. And remember the Township still has a credit balance from the sale of the Brooks School Road fire station. The fire contract is good business for Fishers; they’re not going to turn it down. Even after annexation, there are still unincorporated portions of Fall Creek Township that will need fire service, and Fishers is going to take that business. So whatever mysterious threat you might imply from this flyer, it’s unlikely fire service is going to change anytime soon.
So if I read the flyer correctly (and by the way it is a picture of a city of Los Angeles fire truck), then the crux of it is that the Fishers Town Council is threatening Geist property owners with reprisals should we choose to exercise our constitutional and legal right to sign the remonstrance petition. For most employers, including the federal and state government, it is illegal to threaten employees in such a manner. Too bad it’s not illegal to threaten tax payers.
Just for future reference, my name is Terry Michael, no (s) please.
Thank you
Mr. Michael should be thrown out for malfeasance in office after the way he screwed Fall Creek Township residents by paying too much for Fire Protection. One wonders where his alliengences lie, with the Township or the Town.
I do welcome any concerned citizen to ask questions. I’m not sure where the mafeasance comes to play inregards to this issue, but welcome that discussion as well. My alliegence lies with the township and providing all who live here the best possible services I can.
I will be providing a comparative break down to the costs for Fishers residents and unannexed residents. I beleive this will put to rest any rumors.
This year we were able to provide services for ALL unannexed areas including those who had previously been serviced by Fortville at no addional cost from last year’s contract.
I feel as though I did achieve what was given to me as a challenge by members of GUO. To actually negotiate a “good” and “fair” price for fire protection.
The fire contract is availible for your inspection please feel free to contact my office.
Fall Creek Township
Attn: Fire Contract
11595 Brooks School Road
Fishers, IN 46037
Terry, if this is truly Terry Michael, are you able to explain the rise in costs of Fishers Fire service to the township and in particular, the sell of the Townships Fire Station (Brookschool Road) as a payment?
There has been no rise in cost for Fishers Fire service for Geist from 2007 to 2008 contracts. Previous years, I can not speak for.
The Fire contract amount for 2007 – 2,181,416.27
The Fire contract amount for 2008 – 2,260,314.02
The additional amount includes services now being provided for areas previously covered by Fortville.
As far as the sale of the fire station you would need to refer that question to the previous administration, since the building was sold PRIOR to my taking office.
I will tell you, I was against the sale of the building and land.
But as Trustee, I have been able to lower the over all contact by $400,000 plus this year alone.
A press release will be sent to all the newspapers by the end of the week with the amount unannexed area pays in relation to incorperated areas.
Terry Please do a little research and include 2005 and 2006 contracts in your press release-before Fishers started its campaign
Terry,
Thanks for the info….and I agree with ‘Resident’ that it would be very nice to at least have the basic numbers for 2006 and years prior to show the rise in township costs charged. I understand that this prior to your term.
I’m also curious — how many trustees are there and where can we go to find out more about the township and how it operates. Thanks again.
I believe both “Seeking info” and “resident” make very good points. I will happy to provide thos numbers as well. I am very pleased for te positive responses I am receiving. Not only here, but at my office. I have received 11 calls and 7 e-mails, asking questions or thanking me for the work I have done. This what I believe being and elected servent is about.
Thank you again.
I do appreciate that Tom Britt has given me this opportunity.
Wow, Terry. 11 phone call and 3 emails – what a landslide of support.
Considering no negative, except this one, I feel pretty good.