Reorganization committee approves draft plan to form seven-member board

The Richland Township and Town of Ellitzville Reorganization Committee met April 8 to finalize a draft reorganization plan that would create a seven-member governing board composed of five Ellitzville Town Council members and two township trustees.

Town attorney Darla Brown summarized edits from subcommittee reports and asked clarifying questions about the board's intent. Committee members discussed vacancy-filling procedures; William Ellis said township board vacancies should be filled by caucus and clarified district lines would expand but not be redrawn for current officeholders. Scott Reynolds noted the plan does not define exact differences in taxes and services between rural and town districts and the committee agreed to provide further material to distinguish those differences later. The committee voted to accept the reorganization proposal and will forward it to the town council and township board of trustees for subsequent consideration.

What happens next: The accepted draft will move through the town council and township board for review and any further action.