JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

ACTION LINES INDIANA

ASSOCIATION OF CITIES AND TOWNSMAGAZINE

Celebrating Indiana’s Bicentennial

Losing your immunity; contracting without proper precautions; dealing with employees; accepting grants, gifts or subsidies without knowing the consequences; or thinking good intentions will outweigh bad results is fraught with risks you have to manage… or trouble will surely come calling.

You don’t have to figure it out alone. Bliss McKnight’s insurance and risk management programs include knowledgeable people to help you avoid “getting into trouble”. IACT endorsed for over 30 years.

Heavy responsibilities. Plenty of pitfalls.

IACT-8x10.5-PRESS.indd 1 1/7/16 9:59 AM

ACTIONLINESJANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 3

IN WRITING

16 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Matt Greller discusses a fix to a broken Road Funding system

17 IACT MEDICAL TRUSTStability in uncertain times

IN PLACE

12 2016: INDIANA’S 200th BIRTHDAY

CONTENTS

Actionlines (ISSN 1092-6259) is published by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an official opinion on the part of the officers, staff or membership of IACT. Indiana elected municipal officials receive an annual subscription to this publication through payment of their municipality’s membership dues. IACT Associate Members receive an annual subscription to this publication through payment of their annual membership dues. The annual subscription rate is $50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Actionlines, 125 W. Market St., Suite 240, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

ACTIONLINES

IACT OFFICERS

Greg GoodnightPresident

Kokomo Mayor

Lloyd WinneckeFirst Vice President

Evansville Mayor

Brenda YoungSecond Vice President

Clerk-Treasurer, Nashville

Matthew GrellerExecutive Director &

Chief Executive Officer

REGULAR STAFF CONTRIBUTORS

Rhonda CookDeputy Director and

Chief Federal and State Policy Officer

Brian GouldGovernment Affairs

Director

Benjamin EasleyGraphic Design & Website Coordinator

Natalie HurtSpecial Events & Conferences Director

Erin Jamison-KoenigCommunications Coordinator

Jennifer SimmonsDeputy Director & Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Jodie WoodsGeneral Counsel

ADVERTISING

Anne TrobaughCorporate Relations Director

VOLUME 19 / ISSUE 1JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

IN BRIEF

21 SNOW FUN IN CRAWFORDSVILLE!

IN THIS ISSUE: In this edition of Actionlines, IACT celebrates Indiana’s bicentennial.

DEPARTMENTSIN ACTION

4 MUNICIPAL DEADLINES

5 QUESTION OF THE MONTH What is new concerning Public Officials Surety Bonds?

7 ANNEXATION LANGUAGE CHANGE IN SEA 330

IN MEMBERS

8 MEMBER NEWS

9 CALENDAR & WEBINARS

10 MEMBER Q&A Tom Klein, Avon Town Manager

12

Losing your immunity; contracting without proper precautions; dealing with employees; accepting grants, gifts or subsidies without knowing the consequences; or thinking good intentions will outweigh bad results is fraught with risks you have to manage… or trouble will surely come calling.

You don’t have to figure it out alone. Bliss McKnight’s insurance and risk management programs include knowledgeable people to help you avoid “getting into trouble”. IACT endorsed for over 30 years.

Heavy responsibilities. Plenty of pitfalls.

IACT-8x10.5-PRESS.indd 1 1/7/16 9:59 AM

Indiana Association of Cities and Towns | 125 W. Market St. Suite 240 Indianapolis, IN 46204 | Phone (317) 237-6200 | Fax (317) 237-6206 | www.citiesandtowns.org

ACTIONLINES JANUARY / FEBRUARY 20164This feature should not be considered a complete list of deadlines. If you know of an important deadline, please submit it to Erin Jamison-Koenig at ejamisonkoenig@citiesandtowns.org.

MUNICIPAL DEADLINES

INACTION

INSIDE• Municipal Deadlines• Question of the Month• Annexation Language Change in

SEA 330

FEBRUARY

15 The Department of Local Government Finance certifies 2016 budgets, tax rates, and tax levies. IC 6-1.1-17-16

20 Last day to report and make payment of state and county income tax withheld during January to Department of Revenue, Indianapolis.

28 Last day to file withholding statements W-2 and WH-2 together with Yearly Reconcilement of Employer’s Quarterly Tax Returns W-3 and WH-3 with District Director of Internal Revenue and Indiana Department of Revenue, respectively. Last day to file Annual Financial Report on Gateway.

29 Deadline for unites to file the 2015 Annual Report with SBOA. The Annual Report must be filed before the Department of Local Government Finance can approve a 2017 budget or additional appropriation for a political subdivision. IC 5-11-1-4; IC 6-1.1-33.5

MARCH

1 Deadlines for establishing new taxing units. IC 6-1.1-18.5-7

Last possible day for a unit to hold its first public hearing and present appropriate information before adopting an ordinance or resolution to enter into or form a fire protection territory. IC 36-8-19-6

Deadline for each political subdivision to submit annual report to the Department of Local Government Finance in Debt Management of any outstanding bonds or leases (as of January 1). IC 5-1-18-9

Deadline for solid waste district to provide SB 131 annual report to the Department of Local Government Finance, the appropriate legislative council, and the Department of Environmental Management. IC 13-21-3-13.5

Last day for political subdivisions to report to the Department of Local Government Finance information and data on its retiree benefits and expenditures. IC 36-1-8-17.5

Last day for filing and publishing the Gateway Annual Financial Report. IC 5-3-1-3 (a)

Last day to file Debt Management Report on the Gateway.

Last day to prepare list of old outstanding checks for cancellation. IC 5-11-10.5-3

15 Last day for county auditor to prepare and deliver to the Auditor of State and county treasurer a certified copy of an abstract of the property, assessments, taxes, deductions, and exemptions for taxes payable in 2016 in each taxing district of the county. IC 6- 1.1-22-5

20 Last day to report and make payment of state and county income tax withheld during February to Department of State Revenue, Indianapolis

31 Deadline for fiscal year schools (July 1 to June 30) to adopt a budget for the 2017 fiscal budget year. IC 6-1.1-17-5.6

Deadline to adopt an ordinance or resolution creating a fire protection territory to receive a tax levy in 2017. IC 36-8-19-6

ACTIONLINESJANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 5

IN ACTION

QUESTION OF THE MONTHWhat is new concerning Public Officials Surety Bonds? A Public Official Surety Bond is an insurance com-pany bond that serves as a pledge to reimburse the municipality against costs or other losses occasioned by wrongful or negligent actions of the person who is covered by the bond.

ANSWER: • New people required to have bonds; • New bond term of one (1) year; • New additional filing of bonds with local fiscal officer; and• New additional filing of bonds with SBOA through Gateway by February 29, 2016.

Indiana Code 5-4-1-18 (a) outlines who must have, file and maintain, bonds to perform in the position they have. Those are city and town court judges, city clerks, controllers and all clerk-treasurers and anyone listed in the municipal public officials’ bond ordinance. (A proper crime insurance policy or blanket bond with aggregate coverage are acceptable in lieu of a surety bond. IC 5-4-1-18 (b).) New to the list of those required to have bonds are municipal employees, independent contractors and contracted services providers whose official duties include receiving, processing, de-positing, disbursing, or otherwise having access to federal, state or municipal funds. For audit purposes the State Board of Accounts (SBOA) will look to see if the employees or contractors have access to municipal funds regardless of the amount. There is no de minimis amount in the statute before a bond is required. (See, SBOA Cities and Towns Bulletin, September 2015, pages 1-3.) The minimum bond for these new positions is $5000.

New is that all public official bonds are to be for a one (1) year term. The goal is to make sure that bonds or bond equivalents have the required dollar coverage for each year from the beginning of the term or the beginning of the duties of the official.

Also new is the requirement to file a copy of the bond with the municipal fiscal officer as well as filing with the county recorder.

Another new requirement is that all of the public officials bonds or crime insurance policies filed with the municipal fiscal officer shall be filed with the State Board of Accounts through Gateway by uploading a copy of the bond at the time of the filing of the annual report. The annual report is due by February 29, 2016.

The municipal public officials bond ordinance could and should direct what other employees are to be bonded.

IN ACTION

?OTM

To receive your free digital download of the Indiana Elected Municipal Officials Handbook, contact Pam Phillips at 317-237-6200 or pphillips@citiesandtowns.org

ATTENTION IACT MEMBERS!

for information to complete the IACT city and town roster of municipal officials! Complete a roster data collection form, found at www.citiesandtowns.org, to ensure we have your community’s information.

LAST CALL

2016 IACT HANDBOOKFREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

The Indiana Association of Regional Councils is a 501 (c)(3) statewide association of regional planning organizations that promotes regional strategies and solutions to address local issues.

ACTIONLINESJANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 7

IN ACTION

In 2015, a sweeping annexation reform bill passed, Senate Enrolled Act 330. SEA 330 was one of the last bills to pass in the final hours of the legislative session after hours of back and forth negotiations on the conference committee report. Post session, as more legal analysis has been done on the language that was inserted in the conference committee report, it has become apparent that a few words changed in IC 36-4-3-4.1(e) will prove to be very limiting on the future ability for municipalities to initiate an an-nexation. Municipalities that plan to annex or have an ongoing annexation that is not yet final should be aware of this provision.

Section 4.1 of the annexation statute addresses the agricultural exemption that was previously optional for municipalities. Under the previous law, a municipality could choose to use section 4.1 if it was annexing land zoned as agricultural. The municipal-ity could opt not to impose the municipal tax rate on the agricultural property and the farm property would remain tax-exempt from the municipal rate until the farm property’s owner chose to have the property rezoned. Section 4.1 previously provided that the agricultural property could not be considered part of the municipality for purposes of doing another involuntary annexation from the border of the agricultural property, however, a taxpayer initiated voluntary or super-voluntary annexation could be done. While this provision was limiting on future an-nexations, using section 4.1 was always optional.

During the negotiations on the bill, advocates for farmers urged that the tax-exempt provision in section 4.1 for annexed agricultural property become manda-tory instead of optional. They won on this negotiation point. Now, all annexed agricultural property that is assessed as agricultural (rather than zoned) is exempt from the municipal tax rate as long as its assessment remains as such. In addition, language was added to subsection (e) as shown in bold:

The effects of this change and its application to the entire chapter instead of section means that for any territory annexed, whether agricultural property or not, after June 30, 2015, the annexed territory may not be considered as part of the municipality for purposes of another municipally-initiated annexation. Rather, any future annexation from the border of the newly annexed territory can only be done through a volun-tary or super-voluntary taxpayer initiated annexation.

In the future, municipalities should be aware that if it annexes any property, a subsequent annexation connect-ing to that annexation territory can only be done at the request of the taxpayers, not by municipal initiation.

ACTIONLINES 7

Change in Annexation Law Stands to Tie Municipal Hands for Future Action

RHONDA COOK DEPUTY DIRECTOR & CHIEF FEDERAL AND STATE POLICY OFFICER, IACT

(e) Territory annexed under this

section or (after June 30, 2015) this

chapter may not be considered a

part of the municipality for purposes

of annexing additional territory

under section 3 or 4 of this chapter.

However, territory annexed under

this section or (after June 30, 2015)

this chapter shall be considered a

part of the municipality for purposes

of annexing additional territory

under section 5 or 5.1 of this chapter.

IC 36-4-3-4.1(e)

ACTIONLINES JANUARY / FEBRUARY 20168

Valparaiso is planning to install its first electric vehicle charging stations. Two downtown sites have been se-lected for the charging stations that would be installed through NIPSCO’s IN-Charge Electric Vehicle pro-gram, which is administered by South Shore Clean Cit-ies. The program offers public and workplace charging stations to commercial and industrial customers.

Residents of Lowell will have an increase in their utility bills to implement nearly $4.5 million in water improvements over the next five years. The projects will include water mains, an aerator at the water plant, pump upgrades and a new well.

The cities of Angola, Madison and Valparaiso are list-ed among 15 semi-finalists in the America’s Best Com-munities competition. The campaign aims to “support and inspire creativity and innovation that transform communities and result in long-term growth.” – IIB

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs has added Gas City to the Indiana Main Street Pro-gram. The Gas City Main Street initiative focuses on a “Four Point Approach” of organization, design, pro-motion and economic restructuring of the east central Indiana community’s downtown.

Middlebury Town Council has approved a final bill for the wastewater treatment plant improvement proj-ect. The $9.6 million project will extend the capacity of Middlebury’s wastewater system for 20 years to accom-modate growth.

The Town of Waterloo is accepting bids for a project to move its historic train station closer to an Amtrak boarding area. The project will return the restored train depot to service for the station, which has the third-highest ridership in an Indiana station.

Fort Wayne-based nonprofit The Waterfield Founda-tion Inc. has donated a grant aimed at riverfront devel-opment in the city. The $100,000 grant to the Com-munity Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne will go to a field of interest fund related to the project. The grant was combined with a 50 percent match from Lilly En-dowment Inc. for a total donation of $150,000. - IIB

The Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond will play host to a special exhibit. The NASA Traveling Exhibit, titled “Inspiring the Future: The Legacy of Explora-tion,” will be featured from January 28 to March 22.

INMEMBERS

INSIDE• Member News• Calendar & Webinars• Member Q&A

MEMBER NEWS

ACTIONLINESJANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 9

IN MEMBERS

CALENDAR & WEBINARSIACT CALENDAR

WEBINARS

MARCH

16 Webinar – Open to the Public: Intro-duction to Public Access and the Open Door Law

23 Webinar – 2016 IACT Legislative Ses-sion Recap

APRIL

5 Webinar – Your Cure for the Common Rate Spike: The IACT Medical Trust

13 Webinar – Simplifying the COIT Adoption Process

20 Webinar – Going Green in the Hoosier State: Best Practices for Becoming an IACT Green Community

21 IACT Medical Trust Annual Members Conference, Indianapolis

AFFILIATE CALENDAR

MARCH

5-9 NLC Congressional City Conference, Washington DC

6-10 ILMCT Institute & Academy, Muncie

8-10 Purdue Road School, West Lafayette

18 Northern Mayors Roundtable, La Porte

APRIL

15-18 International Municipal Lawyers Associa-tion Mid-Year Seminar, Washington DC

22 Northern Mayors Roundtable, South Bend

27-29 IMA Annual Conference, Indianapolis

Open to the Public: Introduction to Public Access and the Open Door Law March 16

Municipalities are required to have meetings of governing bod-ies be open to the public and to allow access to public record. This webinar will provide an abbreviated overview of the Open Door Law followed by a more extensive discussion on executive sessions. The grounds for having an executive session, notice requirements, memorandum requirements, attendance restric-tions, and definition of final action will be discussed. Addition-ally, following a review of the Access to Public Records Act, the presenter will discuss the formalities of proper receiving and responding to requests for records. Practical steps and proce-dures to properly deal with requests will be addressed.

2016 IACT Legislative Session Recap March 23

When we put a wrap on each legislative session most IACT members already have a good idea of what happened regarding the larger, more publicized bills impacting municipal govern-ment. However, there are always many, many bills that don’t make headlines during a normal session. This free webinar will help IACT members better understand what is slated to become law in the weeks and months ahead and how it can impact cit-ies and towns of all sizes.

IACT webinars qualify for one credit through the IACT Munici-pal Management Institue, sponsored by Wessler Engineering.

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ACTIONLINES JANUARY / FEBRUARY 201610

IN MEMBERS

Avon Town Manager Tom Klein serves as the Chief Administra-tion Officer of the Town and oversees the departments and staff that coordinate various services for residents. The Town of Avon is located west of Indianapolis in Hendricks County. The Indiana Bicentennial Commission recently approved three Bicentennial Legacy Projects in the town.

What are Indiana Bicentennial Legacy Projects?

The Indiana Bicentennial Commission looks for local and regional bicentennial celebrations, projects and programs to reflect upon 200 years of state history. The Commission accepts applications for endorsement in order for projects to become official Indiana Bicentennial Legacy Projects. The Town of Avon sent in applica-tions for several projects that would become lasting projects for the local community.

The State Bicentennial Commission has approved three projects proposed by the Town of Avon as Bicentennial Legacy Projects. Please tell us about them.

We started with a goal to plant 200 trees to celebrate the bicen-tennial over two years. Residents are encouraged to participate by pledging to plant a tree. Residents that make a pledge will be recognized as a Friend of Avon’s Urban Forest and will receive a certificate. The town will plant trees in public parks and along the roadways in 2015 and 2016.

The Towns of Avon and Brownsburg have joined together on a Bicentennial Trail. The one-mile trail will connect the Avon and Brownsburg trail systems and the towns will share the cost to construct. The construction of the trail is to begin in 2016.

The most recognizable Bicentennial Legacy Project in Avon is the 3.5-ton, 14-foot-tall “200” sculpture. The metal sculpture with the number “200” to celebrate the state’s bicentennial and the town’s 20th anniversary was designed in the style of Indiana artist Robert Indiana. The sculpture has been installed at the Town Hall Park, and residents are encouraged to take a picture with the sculpture and post to social media with #avon200sculpture.

Avon is also celebrating a birthday – happy 20 years! With two big celebrations, how are you working to distinguish the events?

The 200 Sculpture is a combination of both celebrations. The two and first zero are done in a different color than the last zero to distinguish the 20th anniversary of Avon from the bicentennial. The bottom of the sculpture includes the dates of both Avon and Indiana. For the 20th anniversary, the Town hosted a contest to recognize 20 notable people that live or have lived in Avon. The 20 notable people were announced during Avon Heritage Festival Week and included Chet Francis, a member of the 1940 Indiana University NCAA National Championship basketball team; Sharon Howell, Clerk-Treasurer of the Town of Avon; and Patrick Rodgers, PGA Tour Golfer.

What do these projects mean for the community? How have you involved community members and groups?

Avon is a fast growing community and the Bicentennial Legacy Projects create a sense of place for the residents. We encourage community members and social clubs to get involved. The 20 Notable People of Avon committee included a member of almost every social club in Avon. The tree sale is also an effective way to involve the community. For our fall tree sale, we sold 20 state trees for $20 each. If a resident committed to plant a tree, they received a certificate that recognizes them for helping us meet our goal of 200 trees.

Can you share any advice or encouragement for other communities looking to celebrate the bicentennial?

Bicentennial Legacy Projects do not have to be costly to be effective. Use the creativity of the community or move a project ahead of schedule to have the project completed this year. Host a Bicentennial Flag raising ceremony at Town or City Hall with elementary students. We hosted one and students read the history of Indiana, along with how we became a state and the state poem. It’s never too late to apply for a Bicentennial Legacy Project – applications are still being accepted!

Learn more about Bicentennial Legacy Projects at the Indiana Bi-centennial Commission’s website - http://www.in.gov/ibc/2351.htm.

TOM KLEIN AVON TOWN MANAGERMEMBER Q&A

Did you know that the first soybean planted in Indiana was in Avon? Civil War veteran Adrian Parson bought soybeans from Japan and became the first farmer in Indiana to engage in the purposeful and sustained experimentation and production of the crop. He is recognized as Indiana’s Soybean Pioneer by the American Soybean Association and the farm press.

Celebrate your community with local facts about Indiana’s his-tory as an inexpensive way to celebrate the bicentennial!

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ACTIONLINES JANUARY / FEBRUARY 201612

IN PLACE

2016

Indi

ana’s

200

th B

irthd

ay In 1816, Indiana was declared the newest state in the United States of America. Since then, Indiana has become home to millions of people as well as a place with thriving businesses and great community leaders. This year, Hoosiers are able to celebrate both Indiana’s history and its future. Heading up the celebration is the Indiana Bicentennial Commission. The Indiana Bicentennial Commission is a fifteen-member body, chaired by Becky Skillman and Lee Hamilton. First Lady Karen Pence serves as official Bicentennial Ambassador.

The Commission is charged with overseeing the planning and execution of statewide recognition and celebration in honor of Indiana’s 200th birthday. Indiana’s 2016 Bicentennial celebration aims to honor our state’s 200 years of history and do so in a way that engages all 6.5 million Hoosiers and leaves lasting legacies for future generations. The Indiana Bicentennial Commission identified four key areas to celebrate: youth and education, historical celebration, nature conservation and community involvement.

To make sure that the Bicentennial reaches every corner of the state, cities, towns and organizations in all 92 Indiana counties have been encouraged to develop Bicentennial legacy projects. There are nearly 1,000 endorsed legacy projects across the state representing every county. The projects represent the creativity and passion of Indiana and include children’s art projects, museum exhibits, historical restorations, festivals and so much more.

Although it is important to look back on Indiana’s 200 years of history, it is also important to look forward to the future. There is no better way to cel-ebrate our state than by working to improve the lives of Indiana children.

There are a multitude of legacy projects that celebrate and emphasize the importance of children. Indiana Bicentennial Commission Co-Chair Becky Skillman said the Commission is focusing on children as a way to leave a lasting legacy for every Hoosier in the state.

“The Bicentennial Commission wants to leave this legacy by encouraging all communities, institutions and organizations to focus their programs and activities on the health and well-being of Indiana’s children,” Skillman said. “The quality of life our citizens enjoy during the next 100 years will be enhanced by the effort to make our children a lasting priority.”

Greene County’s “Sweet Dreams Baby Bundles” project is one of many that will make a difference in the lives of children this year.

The Indiana Bicentennial Logo will appear on the commemorative flag.

ACTIONLINESJANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 13

The Baby Bundles project was developed at the Greene County General Hospital as a way to reduce infant mortality in Greene County. The hospital purchased baby boxes to give new mothers who have completed prenatal care and deliver at the hospital. The boxes are made of sturdy, flame-re-tardant material that is lined with a mattress, waterproof cover and cotton sheet. The boxes promote sleep safety and can be utilized as a bassinet. The boxes will be filled with a variety of items and educational materials.

Another way to mark the Bicentennial is with commemorative items. Hoosiers can remember the Bicentennial celebration with a book, medal and special flag.

The book, “Indiana at 200: A Celebration of the Hoosier State” incorporates a wide variety of Hoosier voices bound together by a common Hoosier heritage. The book includes the thoughts of business and community lead-ers, artists, athletes, writers, farmers, religious leaders, children and poets. The book also features hundreds of the more than 6,000 photos submitted by amateur and professional photographers throughout the state.

Following the tradition of the Centennial and Sesquicentennial medals, the Bicentennial Medal was designed by an Indiana artist. It was also minted and packaged in boxes made in Indiana. The winning design was chosen from nearly 100 submissions during the summer of 2015. The Indiana Arts Commission conducted the selection process, using the talents of 6 independent judges.

According to the artist, Donna Weaver of Switzerland County, the design is a page illustrating Indiana’s formative history which seems to be turned back revealing what the state has become; our industry, monuments, involvement in medical research, leisure activity and the fine State House in Indianapolis.

As we embark on a year full of Bicentennial celebrations, there are a few events Hoosiers can look forward to, including the Bicentennial Torch Relay and Hoosier Homecoming.

The Torch Relay will travel through all 92 counties during the Bicentennial year. The event, developed by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, is patterned after the Olympic torch relay. Students at Purdue University designed the torch, which is very high tech and ergonomic. Local special events and activities will be held in conjunction with the torch passing through communities around the state.

Hoosier Homecoming is a family friendly outdoor gathering that will be held on October 15. During the event Bicentennial Plaza will be dedicated and the torch relay will reach its end at the Statehouse. There will also be historic re-enactors and interpreters from all periods of the State’s history. There are many ways to celebrate the Bicentennial. Whether you par-ticipate in events in your county, attend statewide Bicentennial events or simply share your Indiana story, every Hoosier’s participation is important to truly celebrate this special time in our history.

For more information about the Bicentennial, visit www.indiana2016.org.

Bicentennial Medal, Donna Weaver

Commemorative book ‘Indiana at 200’

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ACTIONLINES JANUARY / FEBRUARY 201616

INWRITING

COLUMNS• From the Executive Director• Guest Column

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO MATTHEW C. GRELLER

Concrete Method for Fixing Broken Road Funding System is within Reach

There isn’t a sustainable path towards building quality communities that doesn’t include quality infrastructure. For Indiana to be an economic leader we have to include our roads, streets, bridges and highways among our assets rather than our afterthoughts. Finding the right long-term solution to funding Indiana’s serious infrastructure needs is an economic neces-sity and meaningful discussions have finally started among the people with the power to effect change.

With a growing maintenance backlog of more than $410 mil-lion per year and the safety of our roads and bridges deteriorat-ing, recent talk of serious solutions has energized local leaders. When reading the news and talking with lawmakers there is obvious bipartisan will to begin closing the road funding gaps that exist at the city, town, county and state levels. Those of us who have spent many years around the legislative process under-stand this aligning of stars doesn’t happen very often, where the Governor and all caucuses grasp the importance of tackling an issue that has proven historically vexing to solve.

The proposals on the table right now run the gamut and most of them deserve the vetting the legislative process pro-vides. Some of the road funding solutions on the table include using Indiana’s surplus and interest from investments, increas-ing the cigarette tax, adjusting the gas tax for inflation, expand-ing the ability for locals to adopt a wheel tax or implement a local infrastructure income tax, creating grant programs, using the state’s local income tax reserves collected from cities and towns, reallocating the sales tax on gas 100% to road funding and looking at how the sales tax on gasoline is distributed.

It’s too early to cast stones or draw lines in the sand regard-ing which of these options are best and which are non-starters. The needs are too great, the economic consequences are too real and the security and safety of our traveling public is too important to shut down any discussions. Right now is a time to reiterate the importance of a long-term solution and express our gratitude for state leaders’ acknowledgement that the rubber has literally met the road and the time for action is now.

In terms of how the many ideas up for consideration will ma-terialize into a meaningful outcome, we’ll know when the eggs are fried. As with any major issue that comes before the General Assembly, there are many miles to travel between the unveil-ing of ideas, filing of bills and passage of laws. This one won’t be any different. Until then, we choose to remain open and optimistic that a long-term solution is upon us and the political will is present to take on an issue that is vital to the economic success of our state and the quality of life in our communities.

Whether you’re from a small town or a big city, uncertainty is all around you when it comes to municipal health care costs. Rising costs reduce your ability to provide important public ser-vices like municipal infrastructure improvements, public safety and economic development projects. These employee benefit costs even cause reductions in force, or impact your ability to increase employee wages.

Municipalities across Indiana continue to look for ways to control the health care costs that take up a significant portion of their budgets. Faced with property tax caps and limited local revenue sources, these costs are something municipal leaders simply can’t ignore.

This is where the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns can help. A growing number of cities and towns across the state are joining the pooled insurance program offered by the IACT Medical Trust.

“Our path wasn’t sustainable,” says Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer. “We had to set aside politics to do what’s right for the long term.”

We established the Trust to offer Indiana communities a long-term path to stability, and that’s exactly what it does. The Trust is owned by its members, governed by a representative Board of Trustees and regulated by the Indiana Department of Insurance. Municipal members pay premiums to the Trust, an insurance pool that in turn pays medical claims and adminis-trative expenses.

Rather than worrying about one-year cost spikes, our members commit to take a longer-term view. And that has really paid huge dividends. This is the fourth straight year where the Trust has beaten the medical trend with a single-digit premium renewal.

Not only are we saving our members money, we’re also provid-ing them with excellent service. Our products and services relieve the burden of managing employee benefits and makes the IACT Trust Service team an extension of your municipality’s staff. Our professional team includes legal and actuarial advisors plus ben-efits consultants who are deeply experienced with medical trusts while our provider network of physicians and hospitals assembled by UnitedHealthcare is second to none. The Trust also takes care of all Affordable Care Act compliance requirements.

INSURANCE PRODUCTS• Medical plans for large groups (>50 employees)• Medical plans for small groups (<50 employees)• Dental plans• Vision plans• Life insurance plans

SERVICES• Employee benefits consulting• Eligibility and enrollment management• Combined billing (a one stop shop for paying employee

benefit premiums)• Employee presentations, communications and enrollment

meeting management• PPACA compliance• PPACA reporting• Wellness programs with access to a Wellness Coordinator• COBRA administration• Insurance carrier services (disease management, 24-hour

nurse line, case managers and a dedicated public sector client service team through UnitedHealthcare)

• Annual members’ conference • Mid-term performance reviews

Join the growing number of Indiana communities that have come together to stabilize their health insurance costs. We currently have 33 municipal members serving 2,985 municipal employees and 7,550 total plan participants.

“I believe the IACT Medical Trust is the future for mu-nicipal governments in controlling their health care cost,” says Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski and IACT Medical Trust President.

Contact me today at 317-237-6200 x.245 or acottongim@citiesandtowns.org to discuss how the Trust can specifically benefit your community.

You can also learn more by visiting the Trust’s website: http://iactmedicaltrust.org/. Check out the Stories page to hear how we’ve helped Hoosier communities of all sizes find stability in uncertain times.

ACTIONLINESJANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 17

IN WRITING

Find Stability in Uncertain Times

GUEST COLUMNSUBMITTED BY ANN COTTONGIM, DIRECTOR OF TRUST OPERATIONS, IACT MEDICAL TRUST

Helping Indiana Cities & Towns Create Healthy Sustainable Communities

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ACTIONLINESNOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 21

IN BRIEF

Snow Fun in Crawfordsville!

ERIN JAMISON-KOENIGCOMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, IACT

Preparing for winter is a community effort in Crawfordsville. The Street Department has brought together students and community members to prepare the snow plows before they are utilized for the season.

The Crawfordsville Street Department—which celebrated 150 years of operation in December—worked with each of the city’s elementary schools to paint a snow plow blade before the cold weather hit. Kindergarten through fifth-graders contributed to the project by painting the plows in smaller groups throughout a day with paint donated by Morgan Glass & Paint. The students painted Christmas-themed images while also tying in Indiana’s Bicentennial celebration. The paint will likely only make it through one winter due to the wear and tear of the blade. That is okay, however, because students will paint them again next year. Students, along with their parents and Crawfordsville residents, were able to see the final products rolling down Main Street during the Christmas Parade in December.

Before the plows were featured in the parade, the Street Department held its sixth annual “Roadeo” in late October. The Roadeo simulates snow conditions and refreshes the drivers’ memories on snow procedures to make sure the crew is ready before the first flakes hits the streets of Crawfordsville. There are three goals of the Roadeo: make sure the equipment is working, prepare the crew for winter conditions, and test skills with friendly competition.

The Roadeo course is set up to replicate conditions of snow without actual snow. It simulates some of the maneuvers the crew would have to make in an actual snow-day situation – S-curves, cul-de-sacs, backing up through a narrow space and tight turns. The course was lined with orange caution cones and hitting one deducted ten points from the driver’s total score. All Street Department drivers are timed and a winner is announced at the end. Mike Cummings, who also won the 2014 Roadeo, walked away the winner and will have his name on the Roadeo winner plaque.

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BURKE ENGINEERING, LLC

CBBEL-IN.COM

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Special Counsel to the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns and co-author of the Indiana Elected Municipal Officials Handbook since 1999.