ARE YOU "ENGAGED?"

This blog is titled "Engaging Eureka in Governance."  We just passed our first year anniversary back in July!  Time flies... If we might refresh: There are various ways to be engaged in your local government:


One is to attend meetings, whether of the Board, the Commission, public hearings, open houses and so on.  This is probably the best way, enabling you to see for yourself firsthand what takes place, is said, etc.  It can be an eye-opening experience, believe me! It was heartening to me to see that there were several citizens in attendance at the August Board meeting who were there, apparently, just to observe the proceedings, having no business of their own on the agenda that evening.  SUGGESTION:  Send an alternating member of your neighborhood to attend meetings and report to your area.  This relieves one of attending all the time, and yet keeps a number of neighbors up to date.

It is the right of every citizen to be present to observe and listen to discussions leading to Township decisions being made on his/her behalf.  This right is protected by the "Open Meeting Law."  It is unlawful for a quorum of the Board or Commission, or even a Special Committee appointed by the Board (such as the Agritourism Task Force) to have discussions of Township business outside of a public meeting.  This quorum can be "assembled" by way of what is called a "serial meeting," as well as by an outright gathering of three members of the five-member bodies.

Another way to be engaged is to check this blog.  Whether you tend to agree with the opinions expressed here or not, it's a good thing to explore whether there is some item you would like more information on.  This blog is written by citizens who attend the majority, if not all, meetings held in our Township.  We have a concern for the future of our community, which we trust is shared by you.




Better yet, if you subscribe to the blog, as many have done, you will never miss a post.  You will automatically be sent each published post via your email. If you know of neighbors who might be interested, please pass the website on to them.

Reading the newsletter and the website is yet another method of garnering information. The draft and then approved minutes of each and every meeting are to be posted on the website.  Reading these minutes will keep one current at least on what issues are being addressed.  Be aware, the main requirement for the minutes is to record motions, seconds, and votes on Township matters.  It is up to the body in question how much other detail it desires.  This has varied quite a bit over the last several years.  There are lots of comments or attempted actions that never are reported in the minutes, which is why yours truly prefers to attend in person and has done so for some time. You can also request a CD copy of the recorded meetings for the month for a small fee of $5.  Request these copies through the Clerk.  Once the minutes for a particular meeting have been approved, however, the disc is to be destroyed.  Thus, one cannot go back in time to request a CD of a meeting from, say, a month ago---unless those minutes have yet to be approved.  Your right to this recording as well as copies of the minutes and other government-generated data is protected under the "Data Practices Policy." All recordings of all public hearings are preserved indefinitely, as well as those of certain meetings so designated by the Board.

Taking advantage of the "Public Comment" period towards the beginning of each Board meeting is a way to let the Board know of your concerns or opinions. Anyone in the audience wishing to make a public comment is able to do so  There is a time limit involved, and the Board may or may not discuss what you have stated. In the past, most comments received some Board replies; lately, not so much.  If you wish to have Board discussion of your input, you can ask to be heard via an Agenda Item Request. (Form available on website and due no later than noon on the Thursday before a Board meeting.) Citizen Input Policy

Of course, probably the most effective way to be engaged in your community is to VOTE.  The items above are ways to enable yourself to cast an informed vote.  Township elections are held every year on the second Tuesday in March.  One or two supervisor positions are "up" each time around. The Annual Township Meeting is held at 8:15 each and every year on the night of Election Day.  It is at this meeting that the levy is approved by those citizens in attendance. The levy is the only item from that meeting that is binding on the Board, but other citizen comments and recommendations are discussed and sometimes voted on as well.  These non-levy specifics are recommendations only to the Board, and the Board can choose to do what it wishes for these matters.

Be aware that if you are going to be out-of-town on Election Day, you have the option of voting by Absentee Ballot.  It has been known to happen that the absentee ballots have swung an election one way or the other, so this is a very important thing for you to consider. Absentee Ballots

 to all who have endeavored to stay involved and up-to-date on Township affairs.  It is perhaps only human nature to first become involved when something affects you personally.  But as a presenter at a Government Training Session on Ordinances stated, by then "it may be too late to remedy" what the problem is--at least for your situation.