Sec. 6. (a) This section applies to all townships having a population of at least eight thousand five hundred (8,500) that contain a town.

     (b) The township executive may do the following in relation to township parks:

(1) Purchase, acquire by eminent domain, accept by grant, devise, bequest, or other conveyance, or otherwise acquire land within the township for park purposes.

(2) Make necessary improvements on the land.

(3) Maintain and operate the land.

(4) Dispose of all or part of the land that is unnecessary for the park or park purposes.

     (c) If the executive decides to acquire land for park purposes under this section, the following procedures apply:

(1) A resolution to that effect shall be adopted by the legislative body and shall be entered upon the minutes of the legislative body. The resolution must be signed by the members of the legislative body and by the executive.

(2) Upon a petition signed in ink by at least one hundred (100) resident taxpayers and freeholders of the township, the executive shall, after the adoption of the resolution, fix a day not less than fifteen (15) nor more than twenty (20) days after adoption during which time remonstrances may be filed with the executive against the resolution.

(3) The executive shall give notice by publication of the resolution and of the time limits for filing remonstrances in accordance with IC 5-3-1.

(4) Remonstrances must be signed in ink and shall be filed not later than the day fixed for the expiration of the time for filing remonstrances in the notices.

(5) If the number of signers of remonstrances exceeds the number of signers who have signed the original petition, determined by the same qualifications, the executive may give notice, in accordance with IC 5-3-1, of a date by which time a supplementary petition containing the names of qualified signers in addition to the names signed to the first petition may be filed asking for acquisition.

(6) A supplemental petition must be signed in ink by signers having the same qualifications as required for the original petition.

(7) If, after the expiration of the period for filing a supplemental petition, it is determined that the number of qualified signers to the original petition and the supplemental petition exceeds the number of signers to the remonstrance, the executive may proceed with the acquisition of land and the improvement and operation of it.

(8) If the number signing the remonstrance is greater than the number signing the original and supplemental petition, then the township may not proceed with the improvement.

However, the remonstrance does not prevent the acquisition of land or inhibit the power of the executive to acquire parkland unless at least twenty percent (20%) of the resident freeholders who are also legal voters, execute the remonstrance. Only the executive and the legislative body may determine the sufficiency of a petition or remonstrance and the qualifications of a signer. These matters are subject to review only for fraud.

     (d) The executive may acquire any property, land, privilege, immunities, or other species of interest reasonably necessary for the park or for the purpose of improving, maintaining, or operating it. The executive may sue in the name of the township for the condemnation of any property, land, privilege, immunities, or other species of interest in accordance with statutes available to municipal corporations for condemnation.

     (e) To provide money for any of the purposes of this section, the legislative body may authorize the executive to issue the bonds of the township. However, the total bonds issued and outstanding at any time for such purposes may not exceed ninety thousand dollars ($90,000). The bonds may bear interest at any rate, may be made payable semiannually, shall be sold for at least their par value, and run for a period of not less than ten (10) nor more than twenty (20) years. Parts of the total issue may be sold from time to time as the executive determines. After the authorization of the bonds, the executive shall, in accordance with IC 5-3-1, publish notice of that part of the bonds that will be sold at that time. The notice must state the amount of bonds offered, the denomination, the period to run, the rate of interest, and the date, place, and hour of sale. No part of the bonds may be sold except after notice.

     (f) The legislative body shall levy annually a sufficient tax to pay at least the principal and interest of bonds that will mature in the following year, and the executive shall apply the tax to the payment of bonds and interest. The tax levy is in addition to other tax levies. The tax shall be levied and collected on all property within the boundaries of the township, including municipalities. The cost of the care, upkeep, repair, maintenance, and improvement of the park shall be paid out of the general fund of the township, and the legislative body shall increase the levy of the fund each year by an amount sufficient to provide the money to maintain the park.

     (g) The executive shall direct the expenditure of the money raised by the bond issue to save money that otherwise would be expended for township assistance. The executive may offer persons who are able-bodied and capable of work the opportunity to work upon the park improvement. If a person refuses without good excuse, the executive shall consider the refusal prima facie evidence that the person is not entitled to township assistance.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: subsection (a) New; subsection (b) formerly 17-4-41-1;subsection (c) formerly 17-4-41-2; subsection (d) formerly 17-4-41-3; subsection (e) formerly 17-4-41-4; subsection (f) formerly 17-4-41-5; subsection (g) formerly 17-4-41-6.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.114. Amended by Acts 1982, P.L.6, SEC.31; P.L.157-1991, SEC.11; P.L.73-2005, SEC.175.