From Sylvania AdVantage, FIRSTMONTH issue Feb. 6-19, 2006 What Started the Merger Movement? BY JACK MACMILLAN On Dec. 1, 2003, 15 residents of the community asked the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) to gather information on the benefits of "combining the resources of the city and the township, or the two entities themselves, and how such combination might affect the economics, government efficiencies and quality of life in our communities." The original letter to CIC points out that the Sylvania area is no longer a "downtown­based city" and a "sparsely populated rural township." The city has "reached its borders." The township is "reaching towards its own." Together with a population of 48,000. the area is "one of the largest communities in Ohio." Many people now cross boundaries "to live and work without ever leaving the Sylvania community." CIC was asked to gather objective information. It was not asked for recommendations. Decisions rest with voters and elected officials. CIC issued a "Consolidation of Services" report on May 12, 2005. Unfortunately, while it laid out various ways of consolidation, the list of unanswered questions from that study is extensive. Nothing happened as a result of the report until Sylvania City Council referred it to Mark Luetke, chairman of city council¹s employee and community relations committee. Several meetings have been held, with Carol Contrada as the Township representative. Now Dee Dee Liedel represents the Township. We will report on progress in later editions. What turns some into advocates of a full scale merger of City and Township are the facts ­ the absolute facts ­ that: Township residents cannot control their destiny as city residents can. Cities can pass laws. Townships can do only what Ohio township law allows. The township will always be subject to annexation by neighboring cities. It can only protect itself by becoming a city. Think of the frustration of being a township trustee, believing you are faced with continuing annexation moves by the city. Kind of like sitting down next to a friend who puts a sharp stick in your ear from time to time. Not a pretty picture. On the other hand, consider the fact that there is very little land (only a matter of acres) left in the township that doesn¹t get the all the services it needs from the township and Lucas County, and thus feels no need or desire to annex to the city. Not much for the township to argue about, according to city officials. More detail will follow. It is unlikely that an urban township like this will be able to continue providing services to its residents without continually raising property taxes. Such levies are increasingly difficult to pass at the ballot. The fire levy is a prime example. Without a new levy, services will have to be cut. Will a financial crisis finally highlight the need to work together? Let's make a really fresh start on bringing that to reality. The Merger Issue From now until next August, when the merger study petitions must be ready, the merger process will be discussed and explored in upcoming issues of Sylvania AdVantage. Merger studies are complex and hard work but a review of successful mergers in other municipalities in Ohio indicates that even the most complex issues are solvable. The merger of UT and MUO has just been approved by the unions involved. A quote from The Blade said "Mr. Peanut Butter, meet Mr. Jelly." The merger of the YMCA and JCC appears to be succeeding beyond expectation. The formation of alliances has been industry¹s most often used strategy to meet competition. To be discussed are the things the township has not been able to do for its residents purely because it is a township and must abide by Ohio¹s laws on townships. Those topics include the community organizations that are shared, along with the risks they encounter because two separate entities must agree to support them. The increased "clout" a new city would bring; and the role of merger commissioners and how they are selected. Merger agreements reached in other cities and townships will be examined to learn how they overcame thorny issues. This series is geared to help readers become as fully knowledgeable as possible about the merger question. Anatomy of a Merger To launch a merger study by mid August 2006, a petition signed by at least 649 city residents and a second from 913 township residents must be presented to the board of elections asking for a merger study. Each submission must carry the names of five residents who have volunteered to serve as merger commissioners. The question of a merger study is put to a vote and merger commissioners elected at the November, 2006 general election. If either entity votes "NO." the issue is dropped for at least three years. If it passes, the merger commissioners have until mid-August, 2007, to negotiate merger terms and conditions. The question "Should these Terms and Conditions be accepted?" then appears on a ballot in the November 2007 general election. If the terms and conditions are accepted, the merger takes place on January 1, 2008 unless the Commissioners chooses a later date.