Jackson
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The top-ranking elected official in Columbus Township government has resigned while state officials have confirmed there is an ongoing financial investigation into his office.
Columbus Township Trustee Ben Jackson, a Republican, submitted his resignation in an email received by Bartholomew County GOP chairwoman Luann Welmer shortly before 8 a.m. Friday morning. Jackson’s brief message stated only that he was resigning immediately, Welmer said.
Indiana State Board of Accounts Chief of Staff Jennifer Gauger confirmed there is an ongoing financial investigation into the Columbus Township Trustee’s office. However, she was unable to provide additional information.
“Statutorily, we are not allowed to give details concerning ongoing special examinations,” she said.
But on similar past cases, the board has released details after an ongoing investigation has been completed if there is cause to believe there has been wrongdoing.
The Republic reached out to Jackson seeking comment, but he did not respond to the request.
There will be a GOP caucus scheduled soon to select a successor for Jackson, according to Welmer.
In Indiana, the primary responsibility of a township trustee is to provide poor relief to residents who need it most. Other trustee duties include funding fire departments and maintaining cemeteries.
Columbus Township is the only one in Bartholomew County where the trustee is a full-time position. The latest available figures lists Jackson’s annual salary at $62,000.
On Oct. 7, Jackson and his advisory board adopted a $2,417,862 budget for next year. That includes $862,622 for the township’s general fund, $794,260 for township assistance and $686,980 for township fire and emergency medical services.
The budget also contains $100,000 for the cumulative fire fund, which is set up for capital purchases such as equipment and vehicles.
Jackson was chosen June 28, 2013 to replace Fred Barkes as trustee. Barkes cited health and family reasons for stepping down, with his death occurring only two months after he left the position.
But both his resignation and death came amid the turmoil of two criminal investigations into his office. Barkes was being investigated by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department over allegations of misconduct and forging an email, The Republic reported previously.
Jackson won his first four-year term as Columbus Township Trustee in the 2014 election, receiving 71.36% of the vote, according to the Bartholomew County Clerk’s Office. He was instrumental in the creation of the Brighter Days emergency shelter in partnership with Love Chapel and also worked with Centerstone to set up an engagement center for homeless people to access community services on Columbus’ east side.
The most recent audit of Columbus Township by the Indiana State Board of Accounts, covering Jan. 1, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2022, found “no reportable instances of noncompliance,” according to online audit records at the state board of accounts.
