Article by Jerry B. Crabtree, Associate Director of Township Officials of Illinois

Original at: http://www.toi.org/information/documents/jerrysassocdirarticleforMay.doc

Township government responds in time of crisis

For those of you who do not live in Central Illinois, I am sure that you heard about the devastating tornadoes that ripped through Springfield and surrounding towns on March 12, 2006. This was the worst storm since the 1950’s. I was personally impacted by a flooded basement and the elimination of power for over 72 hours. However, my experience is small compared to others devastated by this storm’s path of destruction. The path of the tornado spread more than 10 miles and impacted many townships within Sangamon County.

Recently, I met with Capital Township Supervisor Tom Cavanagh and his assistant, Mark Crawford, to discuss Capital Township’s response to the devastation of March 12, 2006. They conveyed their story regarding the assistance they provided and I felt so satisfied with the response of the township, I wanted to share their story with all of you. This is the impetus of what communities are and significant for the existence of township government. I applaud them for their efforts in identifying a need and seeking a resolve through assistance to meet that need all within the governmental framework we diligently strive to uphold – TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT.

As we all know, township government is labeled as the governmental system closest to the people and that was exemplified by the efforts of Capital Township. We realize the service when we need it most.

Many residents in the hardest hit areas of the storm were without power for up to 10 days. The staff of Capital Township received a call from a township resident impacted by the storm in search of assistance. The request was that they did not need new clothes, food or shelter, but assistance with cleaning the water and storm damaged clothes they already possessed, a service not currently offered by the community programs providing assistance.

In an effort to not duplicate services already being provided by other charitable organizations or government services, Capital Township General Assistance Caseworker Kathe Pierce started phoning businesses to determine what could be done. She quickly found interest by a local Laundromat and developed a voucher program to deliver laundry services to those in need of getting clothes cleaned. Kathe determined a needed service and developed a program quickly to meet that need.

Capital Township spread the word regarding the program by releasing a press release to local social service agencies announcing the available service. The vouchers were used at the Fast Track laundry located at 801 S. Grand Ave. East. Recipients were limited to a $20 voucher processed with the assistance of the participating Laundromat. The voucher could be used for laundry services only. No refunds of any unused portion of the $20 voucher were permitted. The Laundromat, in addition to their acceptance of the voucher, administered the program by manually maintaining the machines and assisting recipients of the voucher. This was a commendable service as well. An example of where a community business developed a cooperative effort with township government not only to provide the service, but assist with the delivery of that service. Capital Township thanks Fast Track laundry in Springfield for their overwhelming assistance with this program.

Ms. Pierce commented that in 25 years of working with general assistance recipients, she does not recall working on the weekend or seeing such a cooperative effort by the many social service agencies, churches and community groups to help everyone impacted by these storms.

In addition to laundry vouchers, Capital Township also provided perishable food vouchers for use at any Shop ‘n’ Save grocery store in Springfield. The food voucher was determined to be in the amount of $40 for a family and $25 for a single individual. Most assistance available was for non-perishable items only. This provided other needs that were important in the clean up and restoration efforts.

This combined effort provided assistance to 329 families and individuals. Food vouchers were issued totaling $12,535 and the laundry service vouchers issued totaled $4,080.00. The combined relief totaled $16,605.00. Additional cash donations were made to a local church that was delivering a brown bag lunch program to victims of the storm. Additionally, they provided a $5,000 grant to the Salvation Army for their mobile kitchen efforts. It is important to note that these services were not budgeted for – they were the result of responding to a community need. I applaud this outstanding and generous effort.

This story is being told to you in an effort to promote the existence and importance of township government. Further, to show that township programs have the ability to adapt to their community needs, and provide assistance where it is most needed in their individual communities. I hope that you take from it as I did, the value of community support through governmental services (townships) as well as the ability of government to assist with the needs of its citizens.

2006 Annual Township Meeting

On the evening of Tuesday, April 11, 2006, I attended the annual town meeting for Gardner Township in Sangamon County. There were approximately 47 residents present. I thank Township Supervisor Fred Krueger and Clerk Ledora Alinger for a well organized meeting. I hope that you all found your annual meeting to be informative and at least basic to the fundamental meaning behind the annual meeting – to review the finances and proposed budget for the next fiscal year. If you have a comment on the meeting you attended, please send it to me at jerry@toi.org.

A question that was raised at the meeting I attended was “Can an elected official serve as the moderator at the annual town meeting?” The answer is yes they can. The township clerk is the only “elected” official serving in any capacity at the town meeting and they cannot serve as the moderator. Any other elected official may serve as the moderator because they are attending the meeting as an “elector”.

TOI ON THE ROAD!

This past month I completed the annual spring educational seminars. These were well attended and the benefit of the speakers was well received. I also attended in Decatur (the East Central Illinois Highway Commissioners) and Kewanee (Henry County Township Officials). Thank you to everyone for your hospitality. If you are having a meeting and would like a representative of TOI to address your membership, please contact the TOI office and we will put you on the schedule. These meetings provide an opportunity for me to go out into the field and bring the TOI message.

Question of the Month!

What is the intended purpose of the contingency line item?

A: The contingency line included in a budget is to cover unforeseen expenses not anticipated by a township. In March 2006, I indicated in my monthly column in the Budget Check List FYI’s that the contingency fee should not be over 5% of the total fund. This is ONLY a recommendation. The fee can be more if approved by the township board. The line item should be used for unplanned occurrences, not miscellaneous expenses.

TOI TO LAUNCH WEB SITE PROGRAM

Watch my June 2006 article for information on the available Web site program for all townships. This service, provided by TOI, will allow townships with no website to be able to post their information on a template site administered by TOI. The service will be available for a small annual fee. Watch for details and registration specifications. A special charter member subscription will be made available to all who register by December 31, 2006.