The Brownstown Township Board and Trustee agreed to increased our 2018 Recreation and Culture budget to help create a sustainable culture of health and wellness in our local communities. We plan to help support the vision and mission of the Healthy Jackson County (HJC) project.*
Do you know your township board members and trustee? Have your township officials budgeted for local recreation and culture activities? For a “Healthier Jackson County” some of your local tax dollars are needed to develop and maintain environments which encourage more local physical activities. Ask your township officials if your township has a budget item for recreation and culture! If not, suggest they add one.
*https://www.facebook.com/healthyjacksoncounty/
The Brownstown Township Board met on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at the Trustee’s office. Members present at the meeting were Bev Dewitt, Jack Gillespie and Jennifer Isaacs. Meeting was called to order by Jack Gillespie. Jennifer Isaacs read the minutes of the May 1 meeting and they were approved.
Old Business:
The First German Presbyterian Cemetery in Wegan is almost complete. The boys have done a great job and the Highway Dept. has completed the road access to get to the cemetery. The amount the township owes should be less than $500. The next stage will be to spray for weeds.The Multi Path Project has a bid of $11,000. The Brownstown Township might have to pay half of it, but not until 2018.
New Business:
The Brownstown Township Trustee received a letter from Smallwood Cemetery about giving a donation to help them mow the cemetery this summer. Bev and Jack both agreed to make a donation of $250.00.
Jack Gillespie brought a bill in for Word Press (our township webpage) for $18.00. Jennifer reimbursed him with a check.
Meeting was adjourned.
The First German Presbyterian Cemetery restoration project was initiated June 1, 2017, after the Jackson County Highway Department constructed an access lane on the easement to the cemetery property located north of county road 400 South at about 75 East in Brownstown Township. This access lane allowed the Township Board and Trustee to begin a tree clearing project for this historic site recently donated to the township by retired Brownstown High School Teacher, Lynn Hinnefeld.
Brownstown Township entered into independent contracting agreements with Brownstown High School students Jordan Statzer and Dylan Cockerham to clear the small trees and brush from the cemetery property. Teacher Blake Hackman and Township Board Chairman Jack Gillespie provided supervision for the tree clearing work. On June 14, 2017 Gillespie brought Mr. Hinnefeld to the site to get pictures of the project progress and meet with Hackman and the boys to discuss some of the family history of the cemetery.
As Jackson County departments have compleated cooperative projects of surveying the cemetery property and constructing an access lane to the site, the Township Board Chairman sent a gratitude email to the County Commissioners, Council, Auditor, Highway Department and Surveyor. This was another local government cooperative project to restore a truly historic Brownstown Township site.
See: https://brownstowntownshipindiana.com/
The Brownstown Township Board met on Monday, May 1, 2017 at the Trustee’s Office. Those present were Trustee Jennifer Isaacs, and board members, Bev DeWitt, Jack Gillespie, and Hope Warren. Also present for the meeting was Brownstown School Board Member, Dan Hall.
The meeting was called to order by Jack Gillespie. Hope read the minutes from the January 30, 2017 meeting. Minutes were approved as read.
Old Business
- Board members discussed donating money to the soccer field this year and it was decided that the board would not be making a donation. Mowing of the field was also discussed and it was determined that the County Park Board is currently taking care of the field.
New Business
- Dan Hall, Brownstown School Board Member reported on current projects that the school board is working towards. Dan reported that the high school football stadium would begin renovation once school has ended for the 2016-2017 school year. Dan also briefly discussed the possibilities of the turf project for the high school football field. Dan also stated his interest in serving another year on the Brownstown School Board.
- Jack reported on the Healthy Jackson County Townships. Completing of the walking path will be discussed at the June meeting. This will be part of the 2018 obesity project. They will be receiving bids from Star Paving and Brad Pardieck.
- Jack reported that the First German Presbyterian Cemetery pathway has not been finished yet by the county. He spoke with Jerry Ault and it is on the to-do list. Jack also reported that he will talk to Jade Peters about having some of the high school football players remove trees for $1500-$2000.
- Jack presented an estimate from Stonehugger Cemetery Restoration, Inc. for the Old Town Cemetery project.
- Jack reported we have not yet received an estimate on the Jackson County Park path project completion.
- Jennifer reported we have received two mowing bids for 2017 from Mark Lahrman and Dave Self (A&B Mowing). Discussion was had, and it was decided to have Dave Self do the mowing for 2017. Bev made the motion and it was seconded by Hope. Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Hope S. Warren, Brownstown Township Board Secretary
RESTORATION PROJECT 2015: Two weeks by “Graveyard Groomer”
Today (2-10-2017) in 1817 Jackson county officials met to establish a central township to be named after the town of Brownstown. Happy anniversary Brownstown Township.
Brownstown Township Board
January 30, 2017 Meeting Minutes
The Brownstown Township Board met on Monday, January 30, 2017 at the Trustee’s Office. Those present were Trustee Jennifer Isaacs, and board members Bev DeWitt, Jack Gillespie, and Hope Warren.
The meeting was called to order by Jack Gillespie. Jack read the minutes from the January 3, 2017 meeting. Minutes were approved as read. Jennifer read the minutes from the September 21, 2016 meeting. Minutes were approved as read.
Old Business
- Hinnefeld Cemetery – The cemetery will be dedicated February 10, 2017.
New Business
- 2017 Salaries – The 2017 Salaries will be as follows: Brownstown Township Trustee $21,000; Brownstown Township Trustee Deputy $2,000; Brownstown Township Board Member $1666.
- 2017 Board of Finance – As of January 1, 2017 the account balance at The People’s Bank was $56,268.03.
- 2017 Nepotism Contracts – Resolution 2017-3: Signed by the Trustee and all board members.
- Resolution 2017-4 – The board signed and agreed to annually budget 10% of its estimated annual receipts to a local Township Recreation, Health, Culture, and Conservation Fund to help finance local cooperative town, township, and county “Healthy Community Projects”.
- 2016 Annual Report – The report has been submitted on Gateway and can be viewed by accessing the Gateway website @ https://gateway.ifionline.org
Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Hope S. Warren
Brownstown Township Board Secretary
Brownstown Township
Resolution 2017-4
January 30, 2017
Be it resolved the Brownstown Township Board annually budget 10% of its estimated annual receipts to a local Township Recreation, Health, Culture, and Conservation Fund to help finance local cooperative town, township and county “Healthy Community Projects”.
Brownstown Township is currently participating in a Jackson County, Indiana CDC Grant project to help prevent and reduce obesity. The Township Board has proposed a resolution to yearly budget 10% of its estimated annual township receipts to a local Township Recreation, Health, Culture, and Conservation Fund to help finance local cooperative town, township, and county “Healthy Community Projects”.
We hope that all of the 12 townships in Jackson County will pass resolutions to help fund these types of projects.
Brownstown Township / Jackson County / Indiana 
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