EAST PALESTINE Counting on a new census

The mayor said many people on his street were counted only because he called the census bureau for the forms.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
EAST PALESTINE -- It will be all hands on deck in early April as East Palestine officials and volunteers collect data for a citywide census.
State law allows the city to conduct its own census to refute U.S. Census numbers, City Law Director Bradley Allison explained.
The U.S. Census numbers for 2000 showed a 4.9 percent decline in the city from the 1990 census. If the U.S. Census numbers stand, the population would be 4,917 and East Palestine would lose its city status.
Mayor Raymond Hull doesn't believe those numbers are correct. He said he was deeply disappointed with the low count, because he and others spent many hours urging people to fill out the forms.
He said many people did not receive the forms, and many who did chose not to fill them out.
Hull said many of the people on his street were counted only because he contacted the census bureau for the forms.
John Payne, director of the Columbiana County Board of Elections, said there are four voting precincts and more than 3,000 registered voters in East Palestine.
Volunteers: City Manager Patricia Quigley said city officials and volunteers will help with the count, which will mostly be done by telephone.
She said the city must verify household addresses and the number of people living in each home.
The city has had a population of more than 5,000 since at least 1940, according to historical society records.
Loss of funding: County Development Director Mark Gardner said the loss of city status means the city would lose the $25,000 to $35,000 it receives annually in a distribution of federal Community Development Block Grants to cities. East Palestine would compete with other villages for state and federal grants, and with more villages in the state than cities, there is more competition, he said.
Gardner said lower population also means East Palestine's share of local government funds from the state -- which are awarded based on population -- will be reduced.
Quigley noted city employees will also lose their option of union representation, as a village government does not have to recognize employee unions. Contracts with the Teamsters and the Fraternal Order of Police would remain in effect only until both expire in 2002, she said.