The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002

SHENANGO VALLEY

Study committee members respond to public opinion survey

By Kristen Garrett
Herald Staff Writer

Some members of the Shenango Valley Intergovernmental Study Committee are encouraged by the results of a poll of residents from Sharon, Sharpsville, Farrell, Hermitage and Wheatland that shows lukewarm support for merging the communities.

"Overall I was pleased ... It's great to get these preliminary numbers early on," said Tom Tulip of the Pennsylvania Economy League. The league, a non-profit agency funded by business and industry and which advises local governments, is coordinating the study for the five participating communities.

The random survey of 587 residents showed 57 percent of residents think some communities should merge and 47 percent think it's a good idea to talk about a merger. Only 36 percent of respondents support a complete merger of all five communities.

Tulip said nothing is a "done deal" and the committee and its eight subcommittees are still collecting data that will give residents a better idea of whatever recommendations the group ultimately proposes.

The subcommittees are studying the whole range of public safety and muncicipal services in the Shenango Valley.

"This is the most complex merger consolidation study in the state of Pennsylvania ... It's never been attempted before," Tulip said. In the past only a couple of municipalities have merged, he said.

Farrell City Manager LaVon Saternow, Hermitage Commissioner James "Pat" White, Sharpsville Councilman Tom Lally, and Sharon resident George Gerhart agreed that public education is going to be important.

Mrs. Saternow said she was encouraged by survey results that showed support and interest in the idea of "some type of consolidation."

White said he was "a little bit surprised that more people weren't against (the idea of consolidation) ... just because of the people that have come to me and made comments," White said of the 46 percent of respondents who said they don't support a merger.

The majority of Hermitage residents in the survey said they approve of their municipal government and don't favor a merger.

"Basically from my talking to people from Hermitage informally they are pretty well pleased with the status of Hermitage right now," White said.

White said the state's involvement in the study and the amount of money the state gives the committee to work with is going to have a big effect on what happens from this point forward.

Lally said he was pleased to see people in Sharpsville and other communities are pleased with their government. He said public opinion "carries a whole lot of weight."

After a recommendation is made, Lally said he thinks residents will follow their government leaders if there is trust.

Lally said he wasn't surprised by the results and hopes that public awareness of the consolidation study will increase.

Lally and several other municipal leaders said they were glad to see Grove City College take an interest in the study. Tulip said he would like to see another poll after recommendations are made.

"I was surprised as many as 36 percent had favorable ideas (about the study), especially since there have been no recommendations," Gerhart said. He said the fact that people are becoming aware of the study will be helpful after a recommendation is made by the committee.

Gerhart said he didn't want to guess as to why Sharon and Farrell residents were more in favor of the idea of a merger but he would be interested to learn why the residents feel that way.

Wheatland Mayor Thomas Stanton said he was actually surprised at how many respondents were in favor of joining communities but the majority still is not in favor of a merger.

"I'm not convinced anybody's told me what the benefit is," Stanton said. "I'm amazed that they (the surveyors) would even get a percentage (of Wheatland residents) that would be for it."

Many people live in Wheatland because it's affordable, Stanton said. He said a merger could cause the cost of living to increase.

Stanton asked, "Should I vote for something that doesn't benefit the people in Wheatland?"

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharon-herald.com



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