Whitestown, Worth Township restart reorganization efforts to merge

The move is not an annexation but a reorganization, people on both sides emphasized, and would not involve a change in tax rates or address, but merely an agreement that Whitestown’s council members would serve as the main governing body of unincorporated Worth Township.

Both Worth Township (in February) and the Whitestown Town Council (this month) have passed resolutions announcing their intention to prepare a reorganization plan.

Whitestown already provides fire services to Worth Township. The town council’s resolution opens the option to provide police and street maintenance services to unincorporated Worth Township without imposing new taxes. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office and Boone County Highway Department currently provide those services.

Former Worth Township Trustee and current Whitestown Town Councilman Clinton Bohm said at the council’s April meeting, that a restructuring would allow the two governing bodies and the services they share to provide better services to Worth residents.

“I think this good opportunity to provide more efficient services,” Bohm said. “It makes sense to look at where we can create these efficiencies, and to streamline these services so we have a better product for the constituents.”

Whitestown and Worth attempted a similar reorganization in 2012. After nearly two years planning the restructure, it was defeated in a ballot initiative in November 2012. Incorporated Whitestown residents voted against the measure 757-678. Residents of unincorporated Worth Township voted against it 363-43.

The measure failed then because residents did not understand the differences between annexation — which involves and expansion of borders — and reorganization — which involves an expansion of a government’s service area — said Mike Hancock, secretary of the Worth Township Advisory Board.

“The previous attempt failed primarily due to the spread of misinformation and confusion about the differences between reorganization and annexation. We need to do a better job of communicating factual information and providing a better understanding of our goals this time,” he wrote in an email.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 787 people live on the 15.29 square miles that make up unincorporated Worth Township. The rest of Worth — 3.77 square miles — is incorporated into Whitestown and had 2,454 residents in 2010.

A reorganization plan finalized in 2011 would have required all Whitestown boards to include at least one member from the unincorporated area. A Reorganization Transition Board would have had the ability to approve or disapprove any of Whitestown's ordinances as they applied to the unincorporated part of Worth.

Town Council President Eric Miller said at April’s council meeting that the process this time will be slow and steady, with many opportunities for the people of Worth to make their voices heard.

“This is the beginning of a process of much discussion and negotiations,” he said. “Whitestown has no desire to impose Whitestown rules or Whitestown tax breaks on those residents. Whitestown also has no desire to develop unincorporated Worth Township. Preservation of the rural agricultural lifestyle would be a priority.”

Town and township leaders will meet individually with residents and hold public hearings. The development of the reorganization plan timeline is still in the early stages, Whitestown Town Manager Dax Norton said.

Hancock emphasized that the reorganization would benefit Worth residents.

“The goal is streamline local government, while at the same time reducing its size, but having no effect on those folks who wish to live outside the incorporated area of the town,” Hancock wrote. “This is NOT an annexation.

“Worth Township and Whitestown share many common interests and services and believe that the provided services can be consolidated and/or coordinated to be more effective and efficient for the citizens.”