To the editor,

I have never written to a newspaper before, but I guess there is always a first. I am writing in reference to the proposed annexation of Beechwood Road, Hampton Place, Colonial Drive, and Countryside Drive.

I have followed the antics, intimidation, threats, and falsehoods provided by the mayor of Salem and her city council. It is a shame that our local government sometimes act like children in a very vindictive way. I feel very sorry for the Sean and Laurie Butcher family for their hardship in dealing with the city, especially during her daughter’s wedding.

I will not bore you with details but the two Columbiana County Commissioners voted against the annexation, with one abstaining with a weak excuse. Salem city appealed their decision to the Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. The judge agreed with the commissioners and upheld their decision. Again, the mayor and her staff voted to appeal the judge’s decision with two members voting against it. It was sent to the Seventh Court of Appeals where the judges voted to deny the annexation by Salem. Maybe, one day, the city council will find the courage to think for themselves.

The mayor and her council have again voted to appeal the Seventh Court of Appeals decision to the Ohio Supreme Court.

I have several disturbing issues with how the Salem mayor is handling her office. If I was a Salem resident, which I will never wish, I would be worried about how my hard-earned taxes are being spent. Is this a vendetta against certain township residents? How much wasted time and monies, lawyer fees, meetings, and courthouse personnel have been spent on her misguided goal? My only hope is that the Ohio Supreme Court will see the stupidity in pursuing this matter. After all the legal stages that our refusal to annex has endured, further proceedings only clog up the system which has more important issues to address. What ever happened to common sense?

Is this a first phase of a two-phase plan? The annexation is for 33 out of over 100 properties which would create a checkerboard neighborhood between township and city homes. I think the idiot that came up with this idea should have been immediately replaced. Is it possible that phase two would be to annex the remaining homes because they are now contiguous to a city property and are connected to city water and sewer? My opinion is that Salem government is devious enough to try this.

We, the homeowners, purchased or built our homes because our choice was to be part of the township, not the city of Salem. We are very satisfied with our police and fire protection that we receive. This also begs the question: will the city have to hire additional police and fire personnel with the additional area to patrol?

I feel the mayor and her committee would better spend their time, ideas, and taxpayer’s monies to fill the empty stores in Salem. Does anyone have a count of these vacancies? It is strange to somehow understand towns like Columbiana are expanding and prospering when the city of Salem has become stagnant, and the city it has become. Could it be the type of government each has? Maybe, the city would be better served with a chartered Mayor-Council-Manager?

William Hupp,

Salem