Additional Means of Residential Prevention and Protection

Do Not Reward the Burglar Who Does Get In

If, despite your precautions, a burglar does get into your home, do not give him a "bonus" of cash or easily-carried jewelry. Never keep large sums of money around the house. Keep valuable jewelry that you do not often use in a safe or safe deposit box or a security closet.

Creating a Secondary Barrier or Security Closet

A secondary barrier or security closet can be created as an additional safeguard. An existing closet can be used to store jewelry, furs, camera equipment, guns, silverware and other valuables. For a security closet to be effective the door should be solid core and equipped with a single cylinder deadbolt lock. The hinges of the door should be pinned.

Don't Welcome Burglars by Telephone

Burglars sometimes try to find out if anyone is home by telephoning your residence. If you get several suspicious "wrong Number" calls or "nobody-at-the-other-end" calls, report it to the police. Warn family members, especially children, not to give out information by phone - especially about who is home, who is out, how long anyone is expected to be out.

If you use an answering machine, do not indicate on the recording that you will be gone for a specific time. A more appropriate message is that you are unavailable at this time and you will return the call as soon as possible.

Insure Against Theft / Burglary

A homeowner's policy provides basic economic protection against burglary and other types of theft, regardless of whether you own a house or rent an apartment. Special policies designed for mobile homes owners and condominium unit owners serve the same purpose. If you do not already have such a policy, it is suggested you purchase one without delay. (Ask your insurance company if they offer any discounts for certain home security precautions such as i.e., install deadbolt locks, participate in Operation Identification, etc.)

Appearance of Occupancy

Maintaining an appearance of occupancy, even when your residence is vacant, is essential to thwarting burglary attempts. Timers which automatically regulate the interior lighting of a home can create a significant deception. Timers should be used while on vacation, when you are out to dinner or even during the day while you are at work.

One type of automatic timer has a 24-hour dial and allows you to set an on-and-off time to coincide with normal light usage in your home. These timers simply plug into the wall, and the lamp you want to use is plugged into the timer.

For the most realistic deception, several timers and lamps should be used to simulate occupancy. For instance, a radio and lamp in the living room might be on from 6:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.; at 11:00 p.m. a lamp might go on in the bathroom until 11:30 p.m.; then a bedroom lamp would be on from 11:30 to midnight as an example. This would indicate to anyone watching the house that it was occupied and the residents were going to bed.

During the day, leave drapes and shades in their normal position - the way you have them when at home.

Addressing

The Department of Planning issues all new addresses for properties located within the Ellettsville Town limits. 

In addition, any address changes, verifications, or other addressing questions are also handled by the Department of Planning. Please contact Kevin Tolloty, Address Coordinator, for all address related concerns or call (812) 876-8008.

Apparatus

Visit Indiana Fire Trucks for more information on Apparatus of Monroe County Indiana

Visit Indiana Fire Trucks

Burglary/Theft Prevention for your residence

Every resident is charged with the responsibility of taking the necessary steps to protect themselves from becoming the next potential victim of burglary or theft.

There are many different ways in which citizens can improve their odds against victimization and we will discuss a wide array of them. However, a criminal will always strike at the weakest point that requires the least amount of effort, the least amount of time and with the best chance at being successful. There is no one single means by which to protect yourself as it will take an objective eye and open mind to evaluate several different areas of vulnerability within your home's current security level. Unfortunately the days of being able to leave your front door unlocked is a thing of the past but it doesn't mean that we have to lead a secluded life locked behind our fortress either. What is does mean is that we have to be a little more cognizant of the little things that we can do that will make a tremendous difference in reducing our potential of being burglarized.

Burglary prevention involves five (5) concepts:

• deter
• deny
• delay
• detect
• deceive

An effective burglary prevention program is based upon appropriate action to implement these five concepts.

Deter:

Subscribe to the Operation Identification (Operation I.D.) program and when completed, affix the decals to let potential burglars know that property items were inventoried and marked. Light accessible locations of the yard during night time hours.

Deny:

Place valuables in a secure location, e.g., wall safe or security closet.

Delay:

Install key-locking latches on windows.

Detect:

Install an alarm system. Join a Neighborhood Crime Watch Program so the neighbors can help to watch each others homes.

Deceive:

Place automatic timers on lights to simulate the home being occupied. Have neighbors pick up mail and other deliveries and mow the lawn to maintain a lived-in appearance.

These five (5) preventive concepts can also aid in apprehension. The longer the burglar is denied entry, the greater the chances for observation by neighbors and apprehension by law enforcement.

You cannot make a residence absolutely burglar-proof, but you can make the possibility of entry so difficult that the burglar will go elsewhere in search of an easier target. The more crime prevention steps you take, the greater your security.

Comprehensive Plan

The purpose of a comprehensive plan is just what it claims to be – a plan that attempts to cover all aspects of Town government. 

While this can be a lofty goal, it is a chance to put on paper the significant goals and ideas that will help guide Ellettsville over the next ten to twenty years.

A comprehensive plan can be assembled in any number of ways with any format imaginable, but ultimately, there are three basic elements required by Indiana Code:

• A statement of objectives for the future development of the jurisdiction;
• A statement of policy for the land use development of the jurisdiction; and
• A statement of policy for the development of public ways, public places, public lands, public structures, and public utilities. 

The statement of objectives provides a broad scope of activities to guide Town development. Objectives described in many of the sections will provide more detailed guidance for all sectors of Town government. The policy statements for land use, public ways, public places, public lands, public structures, and public utilities are a combination of the future land use map, future growth areas map and other related maps as well as a schedule of implementation for the noted objectives. The schedule of implementation will provide a timeframe for each objective, including the priority of each objective and the affected Town departments.

Comprehensive plans can contain countless other items that are related to the governance of a place. Some of the items addressed in this plan include demographics, parks and recreation, housing, economic development, and infrastructure. All of these elements work together to provide a broad framework to guide the growth, development, and preservation of Ellettsville.   

Comprehensive Plan

GIS Mapping

• GIS Monroe County
• Voting Precinct Map
• Ward Map
• Zoning Map

Grants

History

Everyone and every thing has a story to tell.

According to research done in 1975 “The Town of Ellettsville was founded in 1837. The population of the Town has always been about 700 to 1000 people. This was the case up until the mid 1960's when the Town really started to grow. On Sunday, August 1st, 1886, Ellettsville suffered the greatest loss by fire in the history of the Town. It was described as a small conflagration. At about 10:30 pm, the engine room of Shook and Faulkner's wagon works was discovered to be on fire. A number of citizens reaching the location almost simultaneously. The alarm became general and in a few minutes, most of our people were at the scene. 

After the great conflagration in the Town, the Towns people saw a need for some type of fire protection.” This is where our story begins “ They met several times over a period of 18 months and finally, a group of men formed the "Ellettsville Fire Company". The date was May 29, 1888. A set of By-Laws was drawn up and approved. It consisted of how many people the organization could have, when and where they would meet, the company would have a chief, an assistant chief, treasurer and secretary. This form of organization held firmly for five years. The only equipment at that time were a hand pumper (which Bloomington left after the conflagration), leather buckets, everyone was issued an axe and bed keys. When a fire was noted, the fire company would get the hand pumper and go to the nearest water source and start pumping through makeshift hoses. 

In October, 1893 the fire company changed its name to the "Pioneer Fire Company". The By-Laws were basically the same except now they added brigade captains, they were assigned to each side of Town so that everyone in the fire company would have someone to answer to at an alarm. 

Sometime in the late 1890's, the Pioneer Fire Company came into a loosely run organization. It is believed that this came about due to the lack of fires in the Town. Sometime during the turn of the century, the "Pioneer" was not used and people simply called it the "Fire Department". The Department was only given money by the Town Board only when it was absolutely necessary. This was the case up until the 1940's. According to Ruby Endwright, who joined the Fire Department in 1932, if you wanted to be on the Fire Department, just show up when there was a fire and you could help. He stated that they did buy rubber fire coats and aluminum helmets in 1939. Up until 1940, the only piece of equipment was the hand pumper that was donated by Bloomington Fire Department. 

In 1940, Roy McNeely donated a 1936 Chevrolet 1 ton pick-up which was light blue in color. The truck was equipped with 1200 feet of 2 1/2 hose, 200 feet of 1 1/2 hose and 25 feet of 1 inch rubber hose. The truck also had axes, pike poles and a ladder. According to Endwright, the truck was almost in compliance with NFPA pamphlet #19 (now NFPA 1901) except that it did not have water and that it was blue, not red. This truck would always have to hook into the hydrant before it could spray any water. It was very common and standard procedure to lay a dry line. There were very few fires in our Town. Then on December 7, 1946, there was a house fire in which a prominent local citizen's house burned to the ground. It was at this time when the Town of Ellettsville took over the responsibilities of fire protection. It was also becoming more common for Towns to start taking care of the finances and start funding the Fire Departments. 

In 1947, Ruby Endwright was appointed Fire Chief for an annual salary of $10.00 per year. The Richland Township schools paid an unknown price for fire protection, a contract for the Fire Department to respond to fires in Richland Township, it was $1,000 annually. The problem was that the fire truck carried no water and that it would only benefit the people who had a pond or creek nearby. Therefore, a fund drive was established to get a Class "B" pumper. In October, 1947 the Town Board and the Fire Chief went to New York City for a meeting with the National Fire Protection Association. This was to help the Town formulate and regulate a Fire Department.” Unknown who performed Research or the Author of this portion of information above. Information courtesy Mike Cornman. 

Our story does not end there. Keep reading... 

Past and Present 

The “characters” of this story past and present are many and varied but all with one common goal to protect, rescue and educate the public they serve or served.

Identity Theft

How Identity Thieves Get your Personal Information

Thieves GET information from businesses or other institutions by:

• stealing records or information while they're on the job
• bribing an employee who has access to these records
• hacking these records
• conning information out of employees

Other ways thieves may get your personal information:

• They may steal your mail, including bank and credit card statements, credit card offers, new checks, and tax information.
• They may rummage through your trash, the trash at businesses, or public trash dumps in a practice known as "dumpster diving".
• They may get your credit reports by abusing their employer's authorized access to them, or by posing as a landlord, employer, or someone else who may have a legal right to access your report.
• They may steal your credit or debit card numbers by capturing the information in a data storage device in a practice known as "skimming".
• They may swipe your card for an actual purchase, or attach the device to an ATM machine where you may enter or swipe your card.
• They may steal your wallet or purse.
• They may steal personal information they find in your home.
• They may steal personal information from you through email or phone by posing as legitimate companies and claiming that you have a problem with your account. This practice is known as "phishing" online, or "pretexting" by phone.

How Identity Thieves USE your Personal Information:

• They may call your credit card issuer to change the billing address on your credit card account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there's a problem.
• They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, the delinquent accounts are reported on your credit report.
• They may establish phone or wireless service in your name.
• They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.
• They may counterfeit checks or credit or debit cards, or authorize electronic transfers in your name, and drain your bank account.
• They may file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they've incurred under your name, or to avoid eviction.
• They may buy a car by taking out an auto loan in your name.
• They may get identification such as driver's license issued with their picture, in your name.
• They may get a job or file fraudulent tax returns in your name.
• They may give your name to the police during an arrest. If they don't show up for their court date, a warrant for arrest issued in your name.

If your Personal Information HAS been Lost or Stolen:

If you've lost personal information or identification, or if it has been stolen from you, taking certain steps quickly can minimize the potential for identity theft.

• Financial accounts: Close accounts, like credit cards and bank accounts, immediately. When you open new accounts, place passwords on them. Avoid using your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN) or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
• Social Security number: Call the toll-free fraud number of any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports. An alert can help stop someone from opening new credit accounts in your name.
• Driver's license/other government-issued identification: Contact the agency that issued the license or other identification document. Follow its procedures to cancel the document and to get a replacement. Ask the agency to flag your file so that no one else can get a license or any other identification document from them in your name.

If your information has been misused, file a report with the Ellettsville Police Department about the theft and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission as well. If another crime was committed-for example, if your purse or wallet was stolen or your house or car was broken into-report it to our agency immediately.

Identity Theft Victims: IMMEDIATE STEPS

If you are a victim of identity theft, take the following four steps as soon as possible, and keep a record with the details of your conversations and copies of all correspondence.

1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports.

Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too.

• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 74024, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
• Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-88-397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you're entitled to order free copies of your credit reports, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your SSN will appear on your credit reports. Once you get the reports, review then carefully. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain. Check that information like your SSN, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct. Continue to check your reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.

2. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

3. File a report with your our department or the department in the community where the identity theft took place.

4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and stop them. The FTC can refer victims' complaints to other government agencies and companies for further action, as well as investigate companies for violations of laws the agency enforces.

You can file a complaint online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. If you don't have Internet access, call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.

Be sure to call the Hotline to update your complaint if you have any additional information or problems.

Leaf & Brush Pickup

The Leaf, Tree and Brush Removal Ordinance in the document center or under Recent News on the Public Works Department page.

Pay Utility Bill

Payment Methods

Online Payment - Use PIN # on Bill

Online payment may be made by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. Click here for online payment

Convenience fees: 3% or $2.00 minimum, E-Check fee is $1.50

Night Deposit Box

Drop Box is located to the left of our front door. We also have a drive up Drop Box. Please include your payment stub with your payment.

Pay by Mail

Send Check and payment stub to:

Ellettsville Utilities

P.O. Box 8

Ellettsville, IN  47429

Make Checks Payable to Ellettsville Utilities.

Please allow 7-10 days for mailing.

Pay by Phone

You will need your Account Number to Pay by Phone.

Call 1-855-246-9468 to pay by Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.

Convenience fees: 3% or $2.00 minimum

Pay in Person

Office Hours:

7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Monday thru Friday

*we do not close during the lunch hours

Permits

• Board of Zoning Appeals Application
• Driveway Permit Application
• Floodplain Permit Application
• Grading Permit Application
• Permanent Sign Permit Application
• Plan Commission Application
• Right of Way Permit Application
• Temporary Sign Permit Application

Shelter Rentals

Smoke Alarm Program

In need of a smoke alarm for your residence? 

We provide smoke alarms at no cost to area residents.

If you need a smoke alarm, please visit us at Ellettsville Fire Headquarters

Or contact Deputy Chief Chris Clouse at 812-876-4819 or cclouse@ellettsville.in.us

Traffic Accidents

Reporting a Traffic Accident

If you are involved in an accident in Ellettsville, please contact the Monroe County Central Emergency Dispatch Center by dialing 911. Please provide the exact location of the accident and alert the dispatcher if there are any injuries. An officer will be dispatched to the scene.

Copies of Accident Reports (All Fees Due MUST be Paid with Cash, Check, or Money Order unless otherwise Noted.)

If you need a copy of an official accident report for an accident that was investigated by the police department, you can purchase your report online at BuyCrash.com. The cost for this online service is $12.00 and requires the use of a credit or debit card.

Alternatively, you can purchase a copy of the accident report at the Ellettsville Police Department for $8.00.

Traffic Court

Ellettsville Police Officers will issue state citations for traffic violations.

All traffic court dates are on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. Many people (depending on how clean their driving record is) are eligible for the Traffic Pretrial Diversion Program. The Traffic Pretrial Diversion Program is handled by the prosecutor's office. Contact that program at the prosecutor's office

Most citations DO NOT require an actual court appearance if the ticket is paid prior to your court date. The cost/fine of tickets is set according to the violation committed. Contact the Monroe County Clerk's Office at the below number for more information. The Ellettsville Police Department cannot accept payments for violations that are cited into the Monroe County Court system.

Always mail certified checks or money orders (NO CASH) to:

Monroe County Clerk

PO Box 547 - TV

Bloomington, IN 47402

Monroe County Clerk Traffic Division
301 N. College Ave., Room 201
Bloomington, IN 47404
Phone: (812) 349-2602
Fax: (812) 349-2610
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday

Vehicle Security

Although a professional car thief can defeat most security measures and quickly break into and steal a locked vehicle, most vehicle break-ins and thefts are carried out by amateurs who take advantage of the carelessness of drivers in leaving their vehicles unlocked, valuables in sight, etc.

The tips in this section will significantly enhance the security of your vehicles:

• Preventing Theft or Break-Ins
• Recovering a Stolen Vehicle or Property taken from a Vehicle
• Preventing Vandalism/Criminal Mischief
• Buying a Used Vehicle

Water Service

The Wastewater Treatment Plant is located northwest of town on Red Hill Road.

Built in 1997 with a design capacity of 2.3 MGD, it utilizes state-of-the-art technology, including ultra-violet disinfection, to ensure the highest quality effluent.

Wastewater Treatment Plant is managed by Jeff Farmer of Bynum Fanyo Utilities and is located at 7568 Red Hill Road Ellettsville , IN 47429 Phone: (812) 876-1287 Fax: (812) 876-0668

The Utility Service building is located at 6150 N. Matthews Drive. Personnel and equipment are dispatched from this location. Utility crews consist of 2 plant operators and 9 operations-maintenance personnel. The utility boasts about its modern fleet of equipment, including a new combo jet-rudder for cleaning and maintaining sanitary sewers and a mobile camera that inspects the interior of the sewer mains.

Stormwater Quality and Why It Is a Concern:

Anytime it rains, water falls onto many different surfaces, and depending on the surface, it either enters the ground, or runs off to another location. For instance, if rain falls on grass, a portion soaks into the ground, but if it lands on a paved parking lot, it runs off the lot to another location. Within the urbanized area of the Town of Ellettsville, much of the rain runs off of driveways, parking lots and streets, where it picks up oil, grease, sediments and many other pollutants that are harmful to the environment. To report erosion problems at construction sites, please call the Ellettsville Planning Department at (812) 876-8008.

Many people don't realize that polluted runoff from impervious surfaces (like pavement) runs into storm drain inlets which drain directly into streams and other water bodies (including drinking water supplies such as Lake Monroe). This type of pollution is called non-point source pollution because the overall pollution comes from many different sources. Polluted runoff damages and kills vegetation, fish and wildlife habitats. Runoff from failing septic systems and farms can cause E. coli levels in waterways to become dangerous to human health, and can cause overproduction of algae in lakes and ponds which leads to fish kills. The only way to lessen this pollution is to reduce the amount of pollutants washed away by stormwater.

Marriages

Requirements:

1. Application must be made in the county where at least one of the two applicants live. Both applicants must apply in person and provide proper identification.
2. Pay $20.00 application fee.
3. Out of State - Applicants must apply in County where wedding ceremony will take place. There is a $62.00 application fee. This must be cash or a money order. No out of State checks are accepted.

Applicants will receive license the same day they apply. The license is valid for 60 days in Indiana. A copy of the Certified License will be mailed within two weeks AFTER the officiant returns the official license to the Clerk's Office.

Apply for a Marriage License at the Monroe County Clerk's Office

Parking Tickets

More information coming soon.

Shelter Rentals

Ellettsville Parks Board Shelter Rental Agreement and Rules

1. Events must be paid for in full at the time of reserving the shelter houses. No reservations will be made without full payment.
2. Event cancellations require a 4- hour notice for 100% refund; 50% will be refunded with notices given less than 48 hours.
3. Deposit on large shelter house will be refunded upon inspection and mailed within 30 days following inspection.
4. The shelters are available for rental year-round from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
5. Restrooms are available May through October.
6. Please do not damage the shelter house by using staples, nails, push pins or double-sided tape.
7. No alcoholic beverages, drugs, firearms, or fireworks are allowed within the park boundaries.
8. Vehicles must park within the parking lots at all times.
9. Pick up and place all trash in the appropriate areas.
10. Rain days are not applicable to refunds.
11. Leave shelter houses in the same condition in which received.
12. Violations of park rules may result in a group being asked to leave the park property with no refund of the reservation fee.

Shelter Rental Fees: 

Shelter Rental Agreement Application

Zoning

ISO Rating

This is an example topic

Reflective Address Signs

Help us find you faster with a reflective address sign.  For questions or to order call us at

(812) 876-4819.

2024 Meeting Dates for Ellettsville Town Boards

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Town of Ellettsville’s Public Meetings Schedule for 2024

All meetings will be held at the Town Hall Meeting Room, 1150 W. Guy McCown Drive, Ellettsville, Indiana 47429 unless otherwise notified.

The Ellettsville Town Council meetings are the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 PM, except for the Following changes:

April meeting will be Tuesday the 9^th

May meeting will be Tuesday the 28^th

November meeting will be Tuesday the 12^th

The Parks and Recreation Board meetings are the first Monday of each month at 5:30 PM, except for the following changes:

January meeting will be Wednesday the 3^rd

September meeting will be Tuesday the 3^rd

The Plan Commission meetings are scheduled for the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM, except for the following changes:

January meeting will be Thursday the 11^th

August meeting will be Thursday the 8^th

The Board of Zoning Appeals meetings are scheduled for the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM

The Ellettsville Building Corporation Annual Meeting of Directors is scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2023, at 8:00 AM.  The meeting will be held at the offices of Sturgeon and Brown, located at 120 West Seventh Street, Suite 110, Bloomington, Indiana.

If you have any questions you may call the Clerk-Treasurer’s office at (812) 876-3860.