Published Thursday, July 1, 1999 Mayor Tom Stanton held a town meeting Wednesday to see what residents think and an overwhelming majority of the 35 or so people present raised their hands when Stanton asked if they wanted to participate.
First, Stanton had to field questions about what the study would commit the borough to.
John Harper said he was concerned the other communities would try to make Wheatland merge by using the Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Department as leverage. "When they see our tax base they're going to want us," he said.
Harper also brought up a major sore point with many residents: the Farrell Area School District. Residents voted to join the school district based on a proposal that Wheatland would always be represented on the school board. A judge ruled that basis in picking school board members illegal.
"They get $450,000 and we get squat," Harper said of the borough's contribution to the school district.
Stanton said that a merger or consolidation would have to be approved by voters; not even council can make that decision. "They can't force you to do anything," Stanton said.
"I think it would be more trouble if we ignore it," said Pat Lewis, throwing her support behind joining the study.
"I can see merging some services," added Sandy Allen. "I can also see Hermitage taking over and raising our taxes."
Joann Jofery did a little cheerleading for the borough. She said the borough is the only Shenango Valley community with a majority industrial tax base, and has reasonable taxes and a good school system.
"I can't understand why people aren't standing in line to move into Wheatland," she said. "We have something to be proud of here."
Harper, Ms. Jofery, Tom Lewis and former Mayor Helen Duby volunteered to be on the study committee if council goes along with it. If council decides to join, it will have to appoint two council members and three citizens to the committee.
Stanton, who has criticized the study extensively, said he sees nothing wrong with participating. The borough already shares services in many areas -- including saving $50,000 a year from having joined the regional police department -- and other areas could yield more savings, he said. He also would like to see more sensible boundaries.
Stanton added that he "floated a rumor" that Wheatland, West Middlesex and Shenango Township were thinking about conducting a merger-consolidation study. He would be willing to participate in more than one study if there is interest from other communities.
But Stanton said he doesn't think residents of the Shenango Valley will eventually live in one municipality.
"They will never agree," he said of municipal leaders.
To Ruth Settle, that's just fine. "Let's keep it this way," she said.
