The Paper of Montgomery County's editorial board is not afraid of discussing a controversial issue.
The board met Tuesday morning with League of Women Voters of Montgomery County representative Deanna Durrett to discuss the League's report of Township Governance in Montgomery County.
Durrett was the principal author of the 19 page report. She told the editorial board that the League chose to look into the issue of township governance after the Kernan-Shepherd Report was released by the state.
Durrett said that the data was compiled by talking with the Montgomery County township officials.
"They were very generous with their information," she said. "I thought I was using the most solid information."
Durrett said that after the League compiled the data, they released the report, without making conclusions.
"We didn't come to any conclusions, just facts," she said. "If the League is going to support something, it needs to study it."
Editorial Board member Don Hallett said he understands this is a hot topic.
"There is a lot of disagreement out there in the county," he said.
Durrett said that she will continue to watch the Indiana General Assembly to see what action they will take on the Kernan-Shepherd Report.
"I will be watching this carefully," she said. "The devil is in the details. Functions of the trustees have eroded over the years. We maintain this government with ever eroding functions.
Durrett said that the township government level cannot be eliminated without first figuring out who will pick up the trustee's responsiblity.
"If we botch this I think many people would suffer," Durrett said.
Editorial board member Dennis Weir was impressed with the League's report. He said that he would have liked to see more information on the emergency response issue. Durrett said that she is planning to propose emergency response in Montgomery County as the League's next report.
Weir said that he understands the work that went into this report.
"This (report) was done very well," Weir said. "It would take hours and hours before you could compile this information.
Hallett said the discussion has to continue. He was appreciative of Durrett attending the editorial board's meeting.
"We've got an extremely controversial issue," he said. "We have to hear the other side."
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