Residents to retry dissolving village

Village officials plan to put a failed operating levy back on the ballot.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NEW WATERFORD -- Several citizens who believe village government is of no benefit to them are making a second attempt to dissolve it.
They are trying to get an issue put on the November ballot, which, if passed, would eliminate village government. It would also make the village again part of Unity Township, to which the village's assets would transfer.
Kevin Todd is spokesman for a group of citizens. He, James Rupert, Perry Kimmel and James and Cheryl Mattern secured 183 signatures on a petition seeking the ballot issue.
He said that though there are some good people working in the village, the government leaders "don't serve anyone but themselves. Most people feel village government no longer serves the residents of the village, and we're paying way too much for what we're getting."
Todd said they needed about 160 signatures and the signatures must be certified by the Columbiana County Board of Elections.
Last year, they tried to get the issue on the ballot, but there were problems with the ballot language, and the group ran out of time to file for the general election. Todd said that won't happen again.
What's taken place
This time around, they sought legal counsel to help with the ballot language and the requirements for petition signatures, he said. The group has given village council the petitions to review, and council must turn them over to the elections board, Todd said.
"Nothing has changed since we tried to go to the ballot last year, so we're trying again," he said. "Unity Township runs a very tight ship, so we won't be losing anything."
The village of just under one square mile would be absorbed by the township. The police, fire and water and sewer services would come under the township's control, Todd explained. He said the group has discussed its plan with Unity Township trustees, and trustees have been talking to the township's legal counsel.
"I think they would just change the names on the sides of the police cruisers and firetrucks," Todd said. "With the township in control, the trustees will still need the people who are familiar with village services to run them."
Benefit of dissolution
Todd said by becoming part of the township, residents will see a reduction in property taxes and elimination of a 1 percent income tax village officials imposed after residents defeated it at the polls.
He said village property owners pay 14.7 mills to New Waterford and 2.3 mills to Unity Township. Township residents pay 6.5 mills.
Mayor Sherry Felger said only that the petitions are being reviewed by the village solicitor and declined to comment further.
Meanwhile, Felger and village council members are working to place a failed operating levy for the village on the November ballot.
The results of the May 2 election did not change during a recount Thursday at the Columbiana County Board of Elections.
John Payne, deputy director, said after a hand-recount of ballots, the vote remained the same for the village's 5-mill operating levy, failing with 118 votes in favor and 123 against.
Felger said the village will have two levies on the ballot that bring in a total of about $44,000.
Felger said that though she was disappointed the levy still failed by five votes, she is happy that the recount proved the validity of the county's new electronic voting system, which village voters used for the first time.