Residents of Fort Shawnee begin taking sides over the village's financial crisis. As we first told you last week a group is circulating petitions to dissolve the Fort.
Wednesday night the group held an informational meeting to get people on board. The group needs 507 petitions to get the issue on the November ballot.
"Nobody's trying to twist anybody's arm. The only issue is, a lot of people I talked to said at least put it on the ballot and let people decide where a lot of issues these days they feel they don't get a choice on," Petition Committee Member, Craig Bradford, said.
It's that lack of choice and poor financial management a group of Fort Shawnee citizens came together with a petition drive to dissolve the village.
"We're paying money and we're getting nothing," Petition Committee Member Tracey Tovarnak, said.
Tracey Tovarnak has lived in Fort Shawnee for 13 years. She's been there through the financial woes and says enough is enough.
"They've turned off the lights, we've lost a shift of our police, we have no road service to speak of, no snow plowing. We're getting nothing and they just want us to keep paying more and when you do that it's time to say enough," Tovarnak said.
More than 50 people turned out Wednesday night for an informational meeting about the petition drive. If at least 507 registered voters sign the petition it goes on the November ballot. If it passes the village dissolves into Shawnee Township.
"We get fire because the Fort doesn't provide that. We're already getting police service through the township because the fort cut that, so the question would be is it really worth paying taxes on two different governmental entities," Bradford said.
Not everyone at the meeting supported dissolving the village.
"If that's really what all the residents say then you know obviously that's what's going to happen, but I say just get all your facts," Fort Shawnee Supporter, Robin Anderson, said.
Robin Anderson says she's done the research and says it's going to cost residents more money if the village dissolves.
"Do your own research and make an informed decision and if that's what happens, that's what happens, but once you dissolve it we can't get it back," Anderson said.
