Residents In unincorporated Randolph Township and the Village of Clayton will get a chance to plan their communities' future this November. That's when they will vote to study a merger of their two governments.

On Nov. 7, residents of both communities will decide whether to elect five citizens from each community to serve on a merger study commission. If residents of both communities approve the formation of the commission, it will begin a serious study and analysis of all the issues involved in a merger.

"We are extremely pleased to offer this opportunity to our residents. They have the biggest stake in our community and it is only fitting that they decide the future direction we take" explained Randolph Township Trustee Ted Gudorf.

Is a merger viable. Will a merger represent the best interests of residents of both communities? What about services, local control of development, and the stabilization of township boundaries? These are just a few of the questions that will be analyzed by the commission. Based on the complete results of this grass roots study, the merger commission could recommend a merger of the two governments. If so, it would be placed

on the November 1996 general election ballot.

There is strong support already to merge the two adjoining governments. in a survey

conducted this spring, Randolph Township and Clayton respondents supported a merger between their governments. This support increased if a merger would accomplish one or more of the following: keep the township financially sound; give residents more control over development and land use; keep the current boundaries in place and prevent the township from being split into more islands; and provide access to water and sewer for many residents north of I-70.