As an essential service to the community, the Wayne Township Trustee Office has remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic, although our ways of encountering our clients have had to change somewhat. For people looking for emergency financial assistance . . .
The Fourth of July weekend is here and, even in these strange times of the COVID-19 pandemic, thinking about the meaning of Independence Day seems as important and relevant as ever. July 4, 1776 is the date that the American Colonies, still at war . . .
Usually at this time of year we are well into the season of attending large events where we reach out with our informational booth and literature to educate the public on our services. For example, Fort Wayne Housing Authority has, for some years held . . .
Normally at this time of year we would be transitioning from the school year to a summer of downtown festivals and other outdoor activities. But this year has become a whole different animal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Memorial Day festivities such . . .
This year Memorial Day comes as early in the month as it can, on Monday May the 25th. The United States has been observing that holiday on the last Monday of May since 1971 when the “Uniform Monday Holiday Act” made several national holidays land . . .
To comply with social distancing rules all of our intake and interview functions are being done remotely over the phone followed by the client briefly coming in for necessary document drop-offs and signatures. Sometimes it’s even possible to take care of all of the transaction without anyone having to come in. This has meant that our interactions have been a little less personal than we may like, but our and our clients’ possible exposure to the corona virus has been greatly reduced in this way.
We have been operating with a smaller staff as some of our employees have had to shelter at home to care for children or other family members or because they are in a higher-risk category for exposure to the virus. So we have had to scramble somewhat, but we have been there for our clients whose needs have only increased during this stressful time. As I have discussed in prior columns, what is a difficult situation for those of us who have homes and jobs and a modicum of financial security can be tragic for someone already on the edge of being homeless or out of work.
Now, as the unemployment numbers are on the rise, we are expecting a higher demand for our services even after things return to (a new) normal.
Governor Holcomb has announced that the reopening of the Indiana economy will be moved from the original April 20th date to May 1st, and he expects that even then it will be on a phased-in basis. Everything won’t open all at once, and we will have to continue with the social distancing practices we have grown accustom to over the past month and a half.
As of now we continue to wear our masks, work behind plexiglass and clean, clean, clean all of our surfaces.
If you find yourself or someone you know in need of township assistance, visit our ‘Contact Us’ page on our website at www.WayneTownship.org or call us at (260) 449-7000 extension 312. Your call will be returned within 24 business hours or less. Be safe out there, and know that we are here for you. We really are all in this together.
“The Wayne Township Trustee Office will be operating under an emergency basis from March 25th through April 6th. Inquiries for burial, medication, or other essential emergencies should call 260-449-7000 Ext. 370 Thank You!” and “Wayne Township will be in compliance with the mandatory stay at home order issued by Governor Holcomb. The Wayne Township Trustee Office will be operating on an emergency basis from Wednesday March 25 thru Monday April 6. If you are in need of burial assistance or medication assistance please dial 260-449-7000 ext. 370 and leave a detailed message with a return phone number. Other requests for assistance please dial 260-449-7000 ext. 312. Leave your name, number and a brief message and your call will be returned within 24 to 48 business hours. You may also go to our website’s ‘Contact us’ form under the ‘About us tab’”
Before the current order from the governor we had already temporarily cut back on some services in order to follow social distancing protocols. The AARP Tax Assistance Program that was serving citizens at our site two mornings each week has been suspended until further notice. (The IRS has extended the deadline to file your 2019 taxes from April 15 to July 15, 2020). We have temporarily suspended the Workfare Program and our free clothing store (Clothing Emporium) and have cancelled all weekly classes and orientations. Community Harvest Farm Wagon is not making its usual Monday morning stop in our parking lot.
This is a hardship on everyone, but it is doubly so for the financially challenged in our community. Simple requirements like washing up and sheltering at home are not so simple for those who are in an unstable housing situation—or who maybe have no home at all.
As noted above, the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic is changing constantly. We are in regular communication with our local leaders and are closely monitoring the national and global situation. Being a provider of essential services, we are constantly balancing the need for social distancing with the need to be there for our clients. We will stay available to you, our constituency, in one way or another, for as long as possible.
Please check in with us at www.waynetownship.org for our most up-to-date information and/or call us per the instructions above. We also have on our website a link to a COVID-19 Community Readiness Survey that the Allen County Board of Health has asked us to post. Your answers to that survey will help them keep track of how we, as a community, are doing and what our health needs are during this time. We are all in this together. Let’s stay well.
Springtime is rolling around, and here at the Wayne Township Trustee Office we are doing spring things like cleaning carpets and putting fresh paint on the walls, changing the seasonal items in the Clothing Emporium and replacing our office lights . . .
Employees are one of a government’s or company’s greatest assets. In these days, when qualified workers are not always easy to find, it becomes especially important for employers to cultivate an environment wherein people not only want to come to work but they want to do their best to help make their workplace successful and happy for everyone involved.
Here are some interesting statistics about how work is changing in the United States.
As 10,000 baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) are retiring each day, the number of millennials (born between 1981 to 1996) in the workplace is growing at a fast clip, and they are projected to make up 75% of the workforce by 2025. Did you know that:
· 88% of millennials consider a positive work culture essential.
· 60% of millennials value a sense of purpose in an employer.
· 88% of millennials don’t feel money is their main motivator.
That means that workplaces need to realign their management practices around this generation in order to be successful. What do millennials want? According to Dr. Nelson:
· They want to be challenged (78% will work for less if challenged).
· They want to be coached (75% want mentors and training opportunities).
· They want to be trusted (69% want more freedom at work).
· They want to be thanked (90% expect daily recognition and feedback).
Recognition and appreciation are known as key motivational factors for everyone in the workplace. So if you aren’t already offering your staff some of these positive reinforcements, Employee Appreciation Day is a good time to start. Here are some suggestions from the RPI on ways to show your appreciation:
Be Flexible – Flexibility goes a long way in this virtual reality world. If possible with your industry, allowing a little flexibility can reap huge benefits when you need last minute work done.
A Thank You Note – When a job has been done well, a heartfelt, hand-written thank you means more than a slap on the back or an e-mail sent off at the end of the day.
Team Effort Celebration – If the team pulled together and made it happen, reward them with an office pizza party or a casual dress day.
Get Caught – Make sure the employee hears you telling someone else you thought they did a great job.
Create a Culture of Encouragement – Employees who expand their horizons bring new skills to your workforce and will encourage others to do so too. Praise their achievements and encourage others to pursue their goals.
Finally, communicate! Ask your staff how they would like to be thanked for a job well done. Chances are they’ll have some ideas that you can use, and they will appreciate you asking.
Written by SuzAnne Runge, Director of Communications, Wayne Township Trustee Office
It’s February, and here at Wayne Township we are celebrating not only Valentine’s and Presidents days but also Black History Month.
If you watched the Super Bowl this year you might have seen Col. Charles E. McGee conducting the coin toss to start . . .
Few people enjoy doing their own taxes or they don’t feel confident they are getting the best results from their efforts. Many find that tax season is stressful or that filling out the forms is a struggle. Nobody wants to spend a lot of money for tax help and see their tax refund eaten up by fees charged by commercial tax preparation services. This program offers a solution to the problem.
Wayne Township is one of several sites of the AARP Tax-Aide program. All of the branches of the Allen County Public Library, including Waynedale’s, are participating as they have for the past several years, as are Lutheran Life Villages (appointment only) and the Community Center on Main in downtown Fort Wayne among others.
There is no income or age limit to receive help on this program. At Wayne Township we will take walk-ins and appointments and expect to be able to help everyone in a timely manner. As with anything, the better prepared you are the smoother and faster goes the process.
AARP asks us to remind people to bring as many of the following items that apply (Not everyone will have or need all of these documents.):
• Social Security card(s) or other government documentation with Social Security number for taxpayer, spouse and all dependents.
• Last year’s tax return (2018)
• W-2 forms from each employer
• Unemployment compensation statement
• SSA-1099 if you received Social Security benefits
• All 1099 forms (1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B, 1099-R, 1099-MISC, etc)
• 1095-A or 1095-B or 1095-C form
• All forms indicating federal income tax paid
• Child care provider name, employer ID, Social Security number
• All receipts or canceled checks if itemizing deductions
Several other free tax preparation sites for low and moderate income individuals are located within Wayne Township and Allen County. The sites are open on different days of the week and at different times.
Most of the tax preparation sites do not require appointments and several (including Wayne Township) have Spanish and Burmese translators on-site. Those seeking additional information about all the free tax preparation sites can call 211—First Call for Help.
If you get help with your taxes or decide to go it alone, remember that February 11 is National Make a Friend Day, and we all do better with a little help from our friends.
Written by SuzAnne Runge, Director of Communications, Wayne Township Trustee Office
On Friday, January 10, 2020, Austin Knox was unanimously elected Wayne Township trustee at a caucus of Democratic precinct committee leaders of the township. This followed Richard Stevenson’s retirement from the post last month which he had held . . .