Many Licking County residents don鈥檛 want to see change as developments sprout from former farm fields.
Some say the best way to preserve the rural lifestyle of about 3,000 people is for a village and a township to merge.
The unusual question will go before voters next month in the village of Alexandria and St. Albans Township.
In part two of this series, 星空无限传媒 talks with the side that claims merging is what will destroy the locals' way of life.
鈥淟et's turn on the lights. This is the historic Presbyterian Church in Jersey. It's still used, but our Community Improvement Corporation owns it now to preserve it for historic purposes. So we use it,鈥� said Rob Platte.
Platte is the township administrator in Jersey Township. It鈥檚 located next to St. Albans. Platte doesn鈥檛 live in either of the communities that are considering the merger.
But at a September township meeting, he spoke prominently against the merger.
鈥淚 got to live through the difficulty of a merger,鈥� Platte said. He lives in what used to be Lima Township, which became part of Pataskala in 1996 around the time he learned to drive.
鈥淭he reason I know that is because, first of all, the speed limits all changed, right? Because it didn't matter where you were at in the township. The roads that used to be unposted all became 35 mile an hour,鈥� Platte said.
Platte and St. Albans Township Trustee Randy Almendinger are against the merger.
Almendinger bought a home in his township 36 years ago. He鈥檚 been a trustee for 16 years. If the merger is approved, he would no longer be a trustee.
Almendinger says if the township becomes a village, the municipality could implement restrictions that a township couldn鈥檛.
鈥淚t's frustrating to see what they want to try and do. And I just don't agree with it,鈥� Almendinger said.
He said the village could tell people when they can mow their lawn or ban shooting their guns. The pro-merger side said that no one on the pro-merger side has plans to limit grass mowing or ban shooting.
Almendinger said he doesn鈥檛 like the idea of paying Alexandria鈥檚 1% tax on earned income, and doesn鈥檛 think the tax would raise enough money to pay for services in the expanded village.
鈥淭here will not be enough money to operate their new municipality within three years. It might be two years. They just won't be able to make it. You're going to need more tax increases if the merger passes to be able to get anything done," he said.
The pro-merger side said they鈥檝e studied the issue and the tax will be enough to pay for services. They argue not merging will lead to higher taxes if, or when, the township is annexed off into New Albany.
Each precinct of township and village voters has to approve the merger by a simple majority. If approved, St. Albans Township would disappear from Ohio maps, and the village of Alexandria would grow by about 2,500 people.
Platte said a simple majority could be forcing the change on their neighbors.
鈥淭he point is, whether it's earned income or retirement income and stuff, you are forcing an income tax on a large group of people in an unincorporated township that they otherwise don't want that. These people move to townships for that way of life. They don't wanna pay city income tax," he said.
The pro-merger side wants to know why Platte is so invested in the issue.
鈥淲ell, I would say upfront, there's nothing in this for me personally,鈥� Platte said. He鈥檚 been vocally against the merger at public meetings and serves as treasurer of a political action committee that鈥檚 against it and has donated money to try to stop it.
鈥淏ecause we believe the merger's a terrible idea. I believe in township government and supporting our residents out here," Platte said.
Platte and Almendinger think the pro-merger side has an irrational fear of annexation, and that there is an economic plan in place that prescribes smart growth and will preserve the community from unwanted development.
鈥淟et's not make drastic changes based on fear and baseless allegations and misinformation," Platte said.
鈥淲ho cares about the actual township? Instead, let's just create a new municipality,鈥� Almendinger said.
鈥淚 bought land out by Granville. That's where I'll be going. After 36 years on the corner,鈥� is what Almendinger had to say regarding if voters turn down the merger.
"If they merge, you're out?鈥� Platte asked.
鈥淚f they merge, I'm gone. I'm serious," Almendinger said.
Almendinger said he appointed one of the people pushing for the merger to the township鈥檚 Board of Zoning Appeals. If the merger fails and he remains a trustee, he will check into removing Dean Schiller.
鈥淏ecause (Schiller's) a merger guy. He's not a township guy. I don't know what the legality of that is, but I'm going to do some research," Almendinger said.
Schiller is running for a seat on the potential, new village council.
