BAYBERRY BUGLE

I have been regularly attending the Merger Meetings and here is a (hopefully) short report. The Merger Commission will adopt 'Terms and Conditions' for a merger of Randolph Township and the Village of Clayton. As residents of the Township we will be voting for or against merger in the November election.

There will be a spirited campaign for your vote. Debate will be heated with most opposition from the City of Englewood and the City of Trotwood.

As a resident of Bayberry Trails and of Randolph Township, here are my views:

WHY: The study was approved by the voters to see if a merger was in our best interest and if so to draft terms and conditions for that merger.

Here's the problem. Randolph Township is being swallowed for development by nearby cities. More land has been taken from Randolph than anywhere else in Montgomery County, except Jefferson Township. ( And look what happened to them -- they're broke ! )

Typically land is annexed to a city, but occupied buildings and surrounding streets are 'skipped'. This leaves the Township with the expense of providing services, but shrinks the tax base. To provide the same level of service more taxes are needed, when too much land is seized. If we do nothing, we will be quickly surrounded and end up as a small part of Trotwood or Englewood. There would be NO vote. Townships are limited by State law and have no defense. If we merge, we become a City, with LOCAL CONTROL. There would be no more land grabs by our neighbors. We would achieve stability and enjoy OUR OWN ELECTED representation.

WHAT: If we DO vote to merge, it will NOT happen right away. There will be a period to organize and plan, to adopt a City Charter and work in advance for a smooth transition. The feeling expressed by the Merger Commission is that we ought to merge in the best possible way and with the least amount of impact.

WHEN: If the Merger is approved in November, our boundaries would remain in tact, even during transition. Representatives would be elected to draft a City Charter. The Charter would then be placed on the ballot and either adopted or rejected by the voters. Officials of the new City would also be elected and the City would 'come into existence' in January of 1999 or 2000, depending upon certain election dates.

If the Merger fails, existing annexations, which were pending, would immediately follow.

HOW: Most of us don't want to change our way of life or form of Government. But we are faced with either governing ourselves or being governed by others. We must merge or be swallowed.

FIRE and EMS: No change is planned here. The existing Fire Department would become a Fire District under the administration of Englewood, Union, and the new City. If Englewood or Union 'opt out' they could form their own Fire Dept.

ROAD: The City would maintain County roads, but would receive more tax revenue for doing so.

POLICE: Randolph and Clayton Departments would merge to form a new City Police Dept.

FUNDS: The merger has no income tax and only a small change in property taxes. But, as a City we would reap benefits in funds from Gas Taxes and the like.

If we accept merger, we also have a unique opportunity. We are allowed by 'Charter' to continue the same lifestyle for our community with the least amount of governmental disruption in our lives. We must merge and yet think beyond the merger. The CHARTER is the key to our future. This area needs to be well represented on the Charter Commission for any future form of government to be representative of our needs.

Thanks for reading. If you have questions, comments, or concerns my phone is 854-2929. Please feel free to give me a call any evening from 7pm to 9pm.

Randolph/Clayton Merger