CONSOLIDATION Petitions put question on Nov. 2 ballot

The group likely will hold public meetings on the consolidation issue.
By LEONARD CRIST
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
MERCER, Pa. -- Petitions to place a question regarding Shenango Valley consolidation on the Nov. 2 general election ballot have been certified, county commissioners said.
Citizens for the Valley, the group responsible for circulating the petitions, presented the Mercer County Election Office on July 29 with 905 signatures asking that the consolidation question be put on the ballot.
Commissioners said Friday that the petitions were examined by the office staff and found to contain the requisite number of signatures
The next step for the group is to begin organizing their campaign to get information out to the people, said Gregg Buchanan of Hermitage, speaking for the group.
He said they will seek endorsements from state agencies, local businesses and area council members. There likely will be public meetings in each of the five municipalities being asked to merge. The five communities are Sharon, Hermitage, Farrell, Sharpsville and Wheatland.
Buchanan also said the group plans to create a Web site and put out pro-consolidation bumper stickers.
Representation
"There's already the negative bumper stickers out there asking people to vote no. But I don't think everybody knows why they would want to vote no just yet," Buchanan said.
The group needed 5 percent of all registered voters who cast ballots in the last gubernatorial election to get a referendum on the ballot. The group exceeded the number of required signatures.
The question on the ballot will ask the residents of the five municipalities whether they want to join together as one city called Shenango Valley.
The ballot item will have to pass in all five communities to go into effect.
Buchanan was excited that voters would finally get to decide.
"We can take control of our destiny and maybe promote better jobs, try to get a stem on rising taxes and make it a better place for generations to come. It's our future that the voters in November will be deciding. The future of the Shenango Valley," he said.
lcrist@vindy.com