Thorncreek Fire Department

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	About Indiana Township Trustees
	FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about Township Assistance

Indiana Township Trustees
By far the largest single group of elected officials in Indiana, Township Trustees govern 1,008 townships covering every part of the state. Like most elected officials, the Township Trustee serves a four year term. Many Township Trustees work at other jobs in addition to serving their constituents.

Assisting the Township Trustee in managing this very localized form of government is a three member Township Board. Among its duties are the adoption of the annual budget, serving as a board of finance, and approving township contracts.

Indiana law requires that the Township Trustees provide essential services to the residents and businesses of the Township. Because of its "grassroots" structure, the Township Trustee system is designed specifically to quickly meet the needs of the individual in an emergency.
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Fire Protection
Township Trustees are, by Indiana law, charged with the responsibility of providing fire protection an ambulance service for the areas of the township not incorporated into a city or town. The protection can be provided by contracting with various fire departments, operating a Township Fire Department, or a combination of both. (IC36-8) To Top Of Page

Township Assistance
Overseeing the poor and distributing poor relief is a primary duty in many townships. The trustee is charged to care for the poor by the most economical means available and at the same time is charged to be sure that the necessary needs of an individual or family are met. The applicant must show that they are unable to provide those needs through personal effort and that they have exhausted all other means.

Many trustees creatively cooperate with other agencies and churches in their areas, keeping costs controlled and delivering services needed. The advantage the Trustee's systems has over other forms of welfare is the freedom to discern whether or not an individual has and is willing to put forth that personal effort to help themselves. (Title 12 of IN Code)

Burials
Burial assistance is available from the Township Trustee when no other means of payment are available. The trustee, according to IC Title 12, is to oversee the burial of the indigent.
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Assessing
In townships with a population under 10,000 the trustee is also the township assessor and is responsible for assessing the real and personal property within their township.

Personal property is assessed yearly and consists of mobile homes and tangible personal property of an individual, business, or farm. Real property is assessed during a reassessment period with new buildings being added yearly.

Financials
Each August, the trustee prepares and submits a budget for the incoming year to the three-person township board for approval. As the Chief Financial Officer of the township, the trustee pays and records all claims for the township expenses and salaries and is responsible to keep accurate records and follow all the financial guidelines set out in Indiana Code.

In January of each year, the trustee presents to the board an annual report which shows all receipts, expenditures, investments and debts. The approved report is then published in local papers for public inspection.                                                    To Top Of Page

Cemetery Maintenance
According to IC Code 23-14 the trustee is to provide and maintain cemeteries located in the township. This includes those cemeteries which have been abandoned.

Weed Control
IC15-3-4 charges the trustee with destroying detrimental weeds within their township. Guidelines for notification to the property owner are set within the law.

Fence Disputes
When a dispute arises between two land owners regarding placement and maintenance of line fences, the trustee is to make determination according to Indiana law 32-10-9.
                                                                                           
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Miscellaneous Duties
There are other areas of responsibility for trustees that are not widespread. Those include:

• Parks and Recreation
• Zoning & Planning
• Small Claims Court
• Emergency Medical Service
• Schools
• Community Centers
• Shelters
• Libraries

~This information was provided by the Indiana Township Association~

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Who is Eligible for Trustee Help?
There are three (3) rules of thumb concerning trustee assistance:
- Apply within the township where you live.
- Be in need of essentials of life.
- Be willing to help yourself as much as possible.

How is Need Determined?
A person or family is in need if there is not enough income or resources to provide the basic necessities of life. Necessities of life include food, shelter, utilities, medical, household supplies, clothing and other basic needs.

Individual qualification is determined by the trustee or staff based upon written standards adopted by the township.

Can I get Trustee Assistance More Than Once?
Yes, however, by law trustee assistance is short-term. Trustee's assistance can continue as long as your needs exist IF you continue to try to help yourself by seeking employment and/or other forms of assistance.

How Do I Apply For Trustee Assistance?
In most cases you will need to phone the trustee's office to schedule an appointment. Some township accept walk-ins, but most prefer of require an appointment.

You must be interviewed after you have filled out the application form. The application is a legal affidavit and you must state your situation as accurately and completely as you can. Applications are signed by the head of the household. There are criminal penalties for deliberately giving false information.

What Should I Bring In When I Come To Apply?
You should bring any papers which help explain you situation. For example, your rent or house payment receipt will show where you live, how much your rent or house payment is, to whom you make your payments, etc. You should also bring receipts for any money you have spent for at least the past thirty (30) days. This will help show how you have spent your money.

To show what your income has been, bring check stubs or statements from any person or agency helping you. Bringing as much proof as you can about your situation can help speed up the application process. The trustee, by law, may request your permission to verify (by phone or mail) any information you give during your application.

If you are asking for help with utilities, bring the latest bills with you. If you are presently receiving AFDC, bring the most recent Certificate of Action from your caseworker.

The trustee may require additional documentation depending on an individual's situation.

What Happens after The Application?
If you have an immediate need, such as food or prescriptions, the trustee can give help the same day. In some situations, it will be necessary to make a home visits before assistance can be granted. You may be asked to bring in additional information before a decision can be made. In most cases, a determination can be made within three (3) business days, not including weekends or holidays.

If the trustee determines you are not eligible for assistance at this point, you will be given a "Notice of Poor Relief Action" which is a statement of the decision and the reason for it.

What if The Trustee Denies Assistance?
You can appeal within fifteen (15) days. The "Notice of Poor Relief Action", which gives the reasons you were denied, also tells you how to appeal with the County Commissioners. The Board of County Commissioners will set a time to hear your side of the story and the trustee's and then make a decision. They are bound to use the same set of guidelines that a trustee does, You can bring documents and witnesses to the hearing to help prove your case. You can be represented by legal counsel or anyone?

What Kind of Assistance Can The Trustee Provide?
Specifically, the trustee can meet the following basic needs:

Clothing

necessary for employment, school, or ordinary decency.

Food

if not receiving food stamps. The trustee will not supplement food stamps except in specific emergencies: theft, spoilage, health needs.

Household Supplies

cleaning and hygiene items.

Medical Assistance

not otherwise provided by insurance, clinics and HCI.

Shelter

rental payments not exceed established schedule (if specified in the poor relief standards). The landlord or property owner does not have to accept trustee payment. The trustee will not pay for housing that is unfit. The trustee can assist in emergency relocation.

Utilities

bill in the current name of the applicant for the current residence. Apply for utility assistance as soon as you realize you are unable to pay your bills - do not wait until the bills are delinquent or service is disconnected.

Other services include burials and transportation to seek and/or maintain employment.

What About The Residency Requirement?
A person does not need to lived in the township for any particular length of time as long as he/she is living there at the time of application. A traveler stranded in the township may apply for assistance as a transient during office hours with or with out the assistance of the local police or county sheriff's department.

What Is the Person Applying For or Receiving Trustee Assistance Expected to Do?
The Work Requirement:
By law, the trustee must require any able-bodied, unemployed member of a household receiving assistance to seek and accept employment, unless:

• Disabled
• Under age 18 or over 65
• Needed to care for another person
• Employment would violate fair labor standards or the law

The trustee may require proof of your inability to work, such as a doctor's statement.

Other self-help requirements:
Any member of the household receiving assistance is required to apply for other forms of aid if it might help the household meet basic needs. Examples of other forms of assistance are:

the recipient must cooperate with the trustee's office in getting necessary papers signed. For instance, in order for the trustee to pay rent, the person receiving help must sign a "voucher" to go to the landlord. Failure to cooperate with the trustee could result in denial or termination of assistance.

If you are unemployed but able to work, you may be assigned a workfare project. The work you perform will help pay for the aid you get. For many, workfare has been a major step on the road to a job in the private sector.

How Does the Trustee Provide Aid?
The trustee issues vouchers, never cash, to pay for the goods and services which they provide. A voucher is not money, but is a written promise that the trustee will pay money to the company of person who provides the aid, For instance, if you need food, the trustee may give a food voucher to take to a grocery store. The voucher is good only if you take it to that particular store. The grocery takes the voucher in exchange for food you select. You will receive no change if you spend less than the full amount of your voucher. Then the store turns the voucher back in to the trustee whom will pay the amount on the voucher.

I'm A Landlord And I Have A Tenant In Need Who Is Unable To Pay Rent. Can The Trustee Help?
Yes. IF the tenant qualifies for assistance. You can refer the tenant to the trustee's office to make application. If eligible, the recipient will sign a voucher for the rent. This voucher will be sent to you for your signature and should be returned to the office immediately. The Trustee's office will forward a check to you, normally within four weeks. Any questions about rent vouchers can be directed to the Trustee.

How Do I Find Out More About The Trustee's Practices And Procedures?
The trustee is an elected official and like all officials, is governed by laws and standards. The laws are in Indiana Code 12-2-1-1 and following. The trustee has adopted a set of standards to give more detail about eligibility and office procedures. The Township Assistance Standards are available for anyone to see at the Trustee's Office.
 

Cemeteries maintained by the township
Blue River Cemetery        3395 E 300 North
Egolf Cemetery                2545 N State Rd 9
Stough Cemetery               2400 N Etna Rd

To Top Of Page ~This information was provided by the Indiana Township Association~