To the editor:

Ever wonder why Salem City Council has yet to void their annexation agreement ordinance scheme? I’ll tell you why. Because they plan on using it again after they and the Perry Trustees attempt to convince you to vote for the CEDA.

Let’s go to the 10-10-23 meeting in city hall between city and township leaders with the Butchers. In spite of my previous letters, and which has shown them to be illegal penetration of a language created by the city which they cannot support by a legal annexation law in the Ohio Revised Code, this meeting brought yet another effort by the Perry Twp. Chrm. Steve Bailey to actually change the course of action, to the creation of an inter-government district combination of Perry Twp. and Salem City, (JEDD or CEDA) and which was very quickly supported by Salem’s Jake Gano in a manner that it was like a prepared shill scene.

Bailey was quoted actually wanting to keep the illegal deed writings in all the home owners’ deeds, an agreement not entered into freely and not without duress or coercion. All I sense is a political trade-off brewing, as another covert means to gain annexation and municipal taxation in the township. And they will eventually want your voter support to boot.

Notice that this is being offered because Salem City no longer has anything to offer township residents in exchange for annexation as I revealed in my previous four letters to you. It’s known as patience and subterfuge (deception). This meeting was held by Salem’s Economic Development Committee chaired by Jake Gano, and JEDD stands for Joint Economic Development District and CEDA stands for Cooperative Economic Development Agreement. So you should now see where this is heading. If not, then go to this website, https://tinyurl.com/4nura6k9 and read some things about them, or visit your library.

Perry Twp. controls a larger population (16,000) than the City of Salem (12,000) with 16 sq. mi. for the Township versus 6.5 sq. mi. for Salem. There’s a solid reason for that as I revealed in my previous letters to you. The township has the means to grow but its apparent they lack the experience to progress in an orderly fashion. However, we have several problems in front of us. One is lack of checks and balances because both governments are operating on a one political party control. So how much more amiable can these two governments be?

The other is ample experience in the administration of the municipal corporation in order to fully understand its operation. For instance, councilmen Jeff Stockman and Jake Gano both argued that the money from the residents’ water bills goes directly to the water division, and not to the city.

That’s just not true. A falsehood. Ohio Revised Code # 733.46 Receipt and Disbursement of funds reads: Effective: September 29, 2017 Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 – 132nd General Assembly

(A) The treasurer of a municipal corporation shall receive and disburse all funds of the municipal corporation and such other funds as arise in or belong to any department or part of the municipal corporation, except as provided in division (B) of this section.(which has to do with the charter form of government).

There are two Public Departments in a municipal government. Safety and Service. The Utilities is merely a Division of the Department of Public Service. The Ohio Revised code provides for aforesaid division to be guided by the Director of Public Service or by a commission. Salem chose to change to a commission many years ago. More on this later plus why the Butchers failed.

Stephen Navoyosky,

Salem