Letter to the Editor: Don't let Village vs. City divide us

August 18, 2019

To the Editor:

I have been a resident of Manchester Township for over 40 years and have been quite involved in the Manchester community.  

Last week I attended the special township board meeting about the effect on the township if the village becomes a city. The week before that I attended the village council meeting that outlined the process and addressed issues that would go along with such a decision.

I came away from the village meeting with a better understanding of the concerns of village residents. It is not surprising the village meeting seemed more positive and the township meeting felt quite negative. It has been recognized by all that this could be a divisive issue. It does seem to have come to that, at least for some.

The village has the right to consider this move, just as the township should consider the potential effects if the village becomes a city. We should not condemn either government, its elected officials or its residents for investigating or taking a position on cityhood.  

It seems there are inequities in the current township structure, which result from state law, not from any action the township has taken. The village has initiated this action and we need to form opinions based on facts, not emotions. Village residents will decide, and if the decision is for cityhood, the township will respond. 

Manchester service groups, with members throughout our area, have done phenomenal things to improve our community. We also face many challenges. The downtown is struggling. The surrounding townships, as well as the village, have a stake in what happens in the village. The reverse is also true. Regardless of our form of government, we are all connected and depend on each other.

By recognizing both sides have legitimate concerns, and allowing the process to proceed without assigning negative motives, I am hopeful that everyone can tone down their rhetoric and remember that we are all in this together. At the end of the day, we will still have to live with each other. It would be nice if there aren’t so many fences to mend when the process is over, as there will be more negative fallout for our community if we let this issue divide us. 

Sincerely,
Sybil Kolon

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.