Elected Township Officials
Wm. Bill Pipher, Bloomfield Township Trustee
In his fifth term as trustee, Bill served as the deputy trustee for eight years. Bill has been active in a number of local and state organizations, including:
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- President, LaGrange County Township Association
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- Past Secretary, Indiana Township Association
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- Board Member, LaGrange County Mentor Moms
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- Board Member, Community Action of Northeast Indiana (CANI)
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- Board Member, LaGrange County United Fund
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- LaGrange County Planning for the Future steering committee
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- Member and Past Secretary, LaGrange County Step Ahead Council
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- LaGrange Boy Scout Troop 792 Committee member
Trustee Pipher has attained both Level I and II assessor/appraiser certification, and has testified before Indiana Legislative Study Committees about township government and property assessing. He lives in LaGrange with his wife Sue and their children.
The trustee acts as the township executive whose duties include:
- Keep a written record of official proceedings
- Manage all township property interest
- Keep township records open for public inspection
- Attend all meetings of the township board
- Receive and pay out township funds
- Examine and settle all accounts and demands chargeable against the township
- Administer oaths when necessary in the discharge of official duties
- Appoint an attorney to represent the township in any proceeding in which the township is interested
- Enter into certain oil and gas leases of township property
- Authority to act as a notary public without receiving a fee
- Maintain a financial and appropriation record, which must include an itemized and accurate account of the township’s affairs
- Prepare an annual report of all receipts and expenditures of the proceeding calendar year, which must be submitted to the township board for approval
The township board acts as the legislative body of the civil township, and their duties include:
- Advising with the township trustee concerning matters pertaining to civil townships
- Approving the estimate of expenditures submitted by the Trustee, including the setting of salaries and wages for all township elected officials and employees
- Approving the proposed levy of taxes
- Approving the annual report submitted by the Trustee
- Approving additional appropriations as need or emergency arise
- Approving the borrowing of money by the civil township
Your Bloomfield Township Board…
Allen Connelly, Board President
Allen lives south of LaGrange with his wife Becky. Allen is a former Lakeland School Board Member, a Past Commander of the 4th District American Legion Department of Indiana, and is the LaGrange County Veterans Service Officer.
Pat Merrifield, Board Member
Pat has served on the Bloomfield Township Board since 1982. She is a former LaGrange County Jail Matron and lives in LaGrange with her husband Randy.
Steve Bowen, Board Secretery
Steve lives north of LaGrange with his wife, Lila. Steve is a past member of the Lakeland School Board, and has been very active in The Sons of The Legion Sqaudron 215, LaGrange, and the LaGrange Jacees.
