Indiana Township mayor inducted into state association Hall of Fame

Indiana Township Mayor Darrin Krally can add another accomplishment to his public service resume: Hall of Famer.

Krally was recently inducted into the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors’ Hall of Fame for his 20 years of service on his town’s board of supervisors.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan member service organization represents township supervisors, managers, secretaries, treasurers and other local officials in the nearly 1,450 Second Class Townships throughout the commonwealth.

Six township administrators and six township supervisors are selected each year for the Hall of Fame, according to PSATS publications manager Brenda Wilt.

Inductees have a minimum of 20 years of service to their community. There have been more than 200 inductees since the Hall of Fame recognition program launched in 2003.

“We think it’s important because it can be a thankless job,” Wilt said. “They don’t always get recognized for the service they do. We feel it’s important to give them a shout-out. The fact that they’ve been in so long means they keep getting elected.”

Wilt said Hall of Famers’ names, community, years of service and induction date will be installed on a plaque at the association office in Enola, Cumberland County.

Hall of Famers also receive a framed certificate and write-up in the association’s monthly newsletter.

Krally was humbled by the recognition, and said that it could not have been possible without the collaboration of other supervisors and township administrators such as Township Manager Dan Anderson, engineer Dan Slagle and solicitor Irving Firman.

“It’s nice to be recognized certainly, but it’s only possible with our team,” Krally said. “Total team effort to do what we do in Indiana. … We may have differences of opinion, but we are able to separate that.

“We do our best to support one another. That’s a good thing with our group.”

Krally, 55, was appointed township supervisor in 2005.

He won his fourth election reelection in 2023 by 35 votes, edging out Democratic challenger Emily Cook for a four-year seat from District 3.

Krally served as deputy mayor last year and was named mayor at the Jan. 6 reorganization meeting. Both the mayor and deputy mayor positions are members of the township’s board of supervisors.

Krally’s total years of service to the township are closer to 30, including his time on the parks and recreation board and planning commission.

“I’m honored to serve,” Krally said. “A lot of people wouldn’t enjoy it, but I have. It’s about serving the community, serving your neighbors. That’s the joy I get out of it.”

He is most proud of the fiscal responsibility his fellow elected leaders and township department heads have shown through the years, bringing the township out of a deficit of tens of thousands of dollars when Krally first served as a township supervisor to nearly $1 million in cash reserves at the start of this year.

“We watch the pennies,” said Krally, 55. “We run it like a business. We spend as if it was our own money, and it works pretty well.”

Supervisors unanimously passed this year’s budget in December with no tax increase or cuts to programs and services.

The millage rate remains at 3.47 mills, with 2.99 mills for township operations and 0.48-mill for the fire departments.

There has not been a tax hike in at least eight years.

A part of the Fox Chapel Area School District, there are about 7,300 residents in a township of nearly 18 square miles.

Krally said people can build just about any home from a mansion to a farm in the area.

“We’re making it an attractive place to live for people of all ages,” he said.

Projects underway include updating the township’s comprehensive plan, accepting feedback on its Planned Residential Development (PRD) ordinance and developing strategies for the next 10 years.

“There’s always something going on, that’s for sure,” Krally said.

This year may be the last for the association’s Hall of Fame program as it looks to modify its recognition efforts.

Wilt said while reviewing their list of members, association officials have seen a trend of people serving less than 20 years in public office.

“You might see them go a term or two,” said Wilt. “As times change, we have to change.”

What has not changed is the association’s dedication to honoring officials who have made an impact in their township.

“We haven’t quite formulated how (the Hall of Fame) is going to look in the years to come,” said Wilt. “It is probably going to be (another type of) years of service recognition.”