Pike Township avoided losing out on millions of dollars for capital improvements after approving a spending plan Sept. 16.
But the township board meeting was almost cut short because of a monthslong political feud. At one point, Board Chair Claudette Peterson threatened to end the meeting early during a back-and-forth with township Trustee Annette Johnson — a move that could have put the funding in jeopardy.
“Madam trustee, if you continue, I will adjourn this meeting,” Peterson said. “We won’t get nothing done.”
Peterson even asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting, but the board ultimately stayed put.
That decision may have prevented the township from missing a state deadline to approve a capital improvement plan by the end of the month — or else risk losing control of some money meant to fund things such as new fire stations, fire trucks and ambulances.
The tension between Johnson and some board members first came to a head at a meeting in August, which Peterson and two others didn’t attend, upending the township’s budget schedule. Each side pointed to the other as the cause of trouble.
Get the backstory
Pike Township drama puts millions of dollars at risk
The township trustee and board are blaming each other for a potential budget delay that could have a big impact.
The political drama continued playing out during the Sept. 16 meeting, where Peterson reiterated that the previous meeting was canceled because budget documents were not made available to the board in time. She said Pike should emulate Warren Township, which provided its budget proposal to board members in July.
Johnson responded, saying she was getting the budget to board members quicker than previous trustees and that comparisons between the townships didn’t work, as they didn’t face the same budget issues.
“I sat on the board for 14 years, so I think I know what I’m talking about,” Johnson said. “(The Statehouse) gives us the information, then we work and try to do as much as we can. So don’t compare us to Warren Township, to Washington Township, or any of them, because they do not have a fire department.”
Peterson began to speak about Warren Township’s tax base, and Johnson began to speak over her. That’s when Peterson threatened to end the meeting.
No new fire stations — for now
The board was able to move past the dispute and pass an amended version of the township’s capital improvement plan.
The plan includes more than $11 million over the next three years for the purchase of items like ambulances, radio equipment and fire engines and ladder trucks.
Originally, the plan included an additional $16 million for two new fire stations and $329,000 for staff vehicles. But the amended plan that the council approved removed that money.
If the township does not add that spending to future capital improvement plans, the state may take 30% of the money allocated for them in future budgets.
Peterson said that may work in the township’s favor.
“That money will go towards Pike Township roads,” Peterson said. “I could be wrong, but I think that’s a good thing.”
Johnson said Indianapolis should pay for infrastructure and the township’s capital money should go toward needs identified by the fire department.
Next year’s budget
Besides the capital improvement plan, Pike Township also introduced a 2026 budget request of $57.7 million.
A vast majority goes toward funding the township’s fire department, one of only three township fire departments left in Marion County.
Here’s what’s in the budget:
🧑🚒 $52.5 million for township fire and EMS
💰 $2.7 million for general township fund
👕 $1.5 million for township assistance
🚒 $940,000 for cumulative fire fund
What’s next?
The board will vote on the proposed budget at next month’s meeting. It will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Pike Township Government Building, 5665 Lafayette Road. The meeting will also be posted on Pike Township’s YouTube page.
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Mirror Indy reporter Enrique Saenz covers west Indianapolis. Contact him at 317-983-4203 or enrique.saenz@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on Bluesky at @enriquesaenz.bsky.social.
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