Township trustee's claims challenged

Henry Township Trustee Travis Lyall told his board Tuesday that using the township building has a homeless shelter is not affecting their insurance coverage.

That's not correct, according to McGowan Insurance, the broker that handles Henry Township's policies.

The township office building – a former YMCA – has been a community center and an emergency warming site for many years. At the beginning of this month, Lyall opened it up to house people who are living on the streets and in the woods.

Lyall told the township board on Tuesday he had talked with the insurance company and that the township policy covered the shelter activities.

"I have not spoken to Travis (Lyall) since the changes took place," McGowan Account Manager Krissy Purvis told The Courier-Times Thursday afternoon.

According to Purvis, the Henry Township Trustee's office on Church Street is classified as a municipality or township office/community center under its insurance policy. This covers intermittent activities like dinners or basketball games in the gymnasium, she said.

With people sheltering in the building, it would become a "habitational" situation.

"The exposure right now is not set up for that," Purvis said. "We do not have a habitational rating for the building."

Purvis said that, in the short-term, there is not a coverage issue with the Henry Township building. However, continued use as a sustained homeless shelter could impact the policy renewal application.

Purvis said the current liability coverage remains in place and insurance coverage of the structure itself is still in place.

Lyall also told his board he has been working with the Henry County Health Department to make sure food is being service safely in the township building.

Environmental Public Health Director Shalei Hunt told The Courier-Times Friday that the trustee's office has filed plans and health department staff are in the process of reviewing them.

"After they meet all of the requirements, they will receive a permit to operate," Hunt said.

Lyall also told his board that he had been working with the New Castle Building Commissioner's Office about any concerns there.

Building Commissioner Kenny Melton told The Courier-Times Friday that the Fire and Building Inspector from the Indiana Dept. of Homeland Security is planning a walkthrough of the Henry Township building sometime next week. The inspector will then let everyone know what they need to do going forward, Melton said.

Township work truck

Another topic of confusion during Tuesday evening's Henry Township board meeting was the township's work truck.

Lyall said the truck was in an accident on Nov. 9 at the intersection of Main Street and Indiana Avenue. He said the truck was hit on the passenger side, damaging the door.

Lyall said there were no injuries. The passenger side was damaged enough that the insurance company totaled the truck, he said.

"They offered us $900 for the truck," Lyall said. "They said, 'If you want to keep it, we'll just take $900 off your payout.'"

Lyall said rather than accept the insurance company's $900, he sold the truck as a salvaged vehicle for $1,100 to Affordable Towing, a company owned by township board member Brian Atkinson.

"We put that money back in our funds," Lyall said. "It was $200 more than the insurance offered."

Community member Kevin Webb was at Tuesday's township board meeting. At the end of the meeting, Webb asked for clarification about the amount of money Henry Township received for the totaled pickup truck.

Webb said the Kelley Blue Book value of the truck should have been at least $4,000.

"Talk to the insurance company. They said the salvage value was $900," Lyall said.

Lyall then said the insurance company actually paid the township $6,300 for the truck.

"The total value was $8,300 or something like that. They (the insurance company) took $1,000 for our deductible," Lyall told his board.

After the deductible, the insurance company took another $900 to let the township keep the totaled vehicle.

Until that explanation, Henry Township Board President Lee Walker and board member Pat Cronk also thought Lyall meant the insurance company paid out $900 total.

"So we actually ended up with around $7,300, $7,400," Walker said.

Lyall told the board he intends to bring an additional appropriation in February to get a replacement truck. The township truck will be used mainly for moving lawn care equipment.

Lyall anticipates getting a Ford Ranger, which would have a lower towing capacity than the previous truck. He suggested the township trade in its steel trailer for a lighter aluminum-framed trailer. The board approved Lyall's recommendation on the trailer 3-0.

Eric Manning

Walker also wanted clarification Tuesday about any relationship between Henry Township and a New Lisbon resident named Eric Manning.

Manning is originally from Indianapolis. He moved to Henry County in 2022 after winning more than $1 million at a Shelbyville casino.

Manning registered The Eric Manning Project Corp at a 501(c)3 with the Indiana Secretary of State on Dec. 1, 2023.

Manning told The Courier-Times that the official launch of his Henry County initiative was the free nightly dinner program served at the Henry Township Community Center, 1201 Church St., New Castle.

Manning told The Courier-Times he also donated $5,000 for a Christmas giveaway that took place at the Henry Township Community Center.

In Manning's words, the "stars aligned" when he began working with Henry Township Trustee Travis Lyall to help community members in need.

Manning is also currently facing a Level 5 felony charge in Henry Circuit 2 for possession of cocaine following a Jan. 5 arrest. Manning denied the allegations on his personal social media page and entered a not guilty plea during an initial hearing Jan. 12. The jury trial is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. May 13.

"What is his current status as far as working in the (township) building?" Walker asked Lyall during Tuesday's meeting.

"He never worked in the building," Lyall replied. "He came up here and he was volunteering, helping with different things."

Lyall said Manning has helped haul food and has purchased fuel for people in need.

"He holds no position here. He's not associated with us," Lyall told his board. "At the same time, he will still haul some stuff for us occasionally. He will do some running for us."

Walker asked about the posts on Manning's personal Facebook that indicated a stronger relationship than that between Manning and the Henry Township Trustee's Office.

On Jan. 3, Manning made a post that read, "New shower is just about done, and will be available for anyone needing to freshen up soon. Finally getting my office set up as well. Come see me anytime for anything and we will do our best to help. Anyone wanting to volunteer or donate in any capacity whatsoever, feel free to message me anytime. Will have a fb page and website up for this new community service program soon. Stay tuned for more, plenty of things are in the works."

In the post, Manning marked himself at the Henry Township Community.

"When he came up to me, he had some good ideas. Everybody – even Hitler – had a good idea," Lyall said. "But when he came to me with his ideas, wanting to work here at the trustee's – or wanting to work with us, I encouraged him 'Do your own foundation. Set up your own nonprofit.'"

Lyall said he encourages a lot of people to set up their own nonprofit organizations because government agencies are restricted by what they can do.

"I encouraged him, 'Don't donate your money here. Set up your own nonprofit.' So that's what he's done," Lyall continued. "He doesn't work here. He has nothing to do with us."

Walker wanted it to be clear to the community that the Henry Township Trustee's Office is not "begging for money on Facebook."

Volunteers are welcome to help serve meals at the Henry Township Community Center or perform tasks like washing blankets. Clothing and shoe donations are also needed, especially men's shoes, shirts and blue jeans of all sizes. Donations of items such as laundry detergent and cleaning supplies are also appreciated.

For more information about the Henry Township Community Center, call 765-529-3303.