About a dozen or so citizens attended a meeting Thursday night to discuss possible cityhood for the Village of Oxford.
‘We have grown. We’re a city now. All we have to do is change the name,? said village Councilman Dave Bailey, who attended the meeting and stated his support for cityhood.
The meeting was organized by Oxford Village resident Tracy Miller, husband of Councilwoman Renee Donovan, who originally mailed out 25 invitations for the gathering.
In his Power-Point presentation to the audience, Miller stated that the State of Michigan allowed for the creation of villages as a ‘temporary form of government? or ‘stepping-stone? in the ‘transition from township to city? as both population and the demand for services grew.
Miller argued that the village has grown in population, citizen needs and demands for services and ‘more government accountability.? He cited the need to ‘eliminate duplication of expenditures. . .services. . .taxes? as another need stemming from village growth.
He cited the duplication of officials as an example noting both the township and village each employ a clerk, treasurer and manager/supervisor. He added that each of these township positions also employs a deputy.
‘There’s no reason for this,? Miller said. ‘As a city, we wouldn’t have to pay for this duplication.?
A ‘key function? becoming a city is to ‘maintain our identity. . .who we are,? Miller told the audience.
‘Nobody wants to be swallowed up,? he said. ‘We don’t want to lose our identity. That’s a key issue.?
Miller pointed to the cities of Clarkston and Rochester as two examples of communities that incorporated as cities to maintain their identities and did so successfully.
Other reasons for the village to pursue cityhood included ‘historic preservation? and preserving thhe ‘historic value of downtown,? Miller explained.
Incorporating as a city would also lead to ‘increased state and federal funding, greater grant availability (and) availability of government subsidies,? all of which are only available to cities, not townships and villages, he told the audience.
The number one thing the village needs to become a city is ‘desire.? ‘It has to be there,? Miller said. ‘If the citizens want it, then it will happen.?
Every step in the cityhood process requires voter approval, which is the ‘most important need,? he noted.
Village resident Merle Smith asked Miller to address two issues ? city income taxes and possible dissolution of the village.
As far as the former is concerned, Miller cited the City Income Tax Act of 1964 which states that a city income tax must be approved by the voters, unless the city already had one in effect on Jan. 1, 1995.
As for dissolving the village, Miller said there is no state legislation to support that action.
‘If you try to dissolve the village, you’re trying to create new case law,? he said.
However, the day after the meeting Miller told this reporter he found some ‘verbage in regard to disincorporation? of a village, but ‘not necessarily dissolution.?
‘It didn’t speak to what would be done with employees, retirement benefits, etc.,? he said. ‘I haven’t been able to find anything clear cut that allows for complete dissolution.?
Village resident Charlie Stevens asked Miller if the village’s incorporation as a city would require any boundary changes, meaning the annexation of land from the township.
Miller said the village could become a city within its current boundaries without annexing any township properties. He again pointed to Clarkston as an example that annexation of township land is ‘not a requirement? for cityhood.
Miller also noted that Oxford Township is a charter township, which means it cannot be annexed by a city, unless the movement for it came from within the township, according to state law.
Village resident Dale Wolicki said he doesn’t like paying ‘extra taxes? to the township and he’s ‘not seen any village representation on the township board.?
‘I see this (cityhood) as getting more control over our money and better representation,? Wolicki said, noting he feels the village council provides the latter for village residents better than the township board.
However, it was noted during the meeting that township Supervisor Bill Dunn is a village resident. He lives on Dennison St.
Smith asked if there was any record of other villages? experiences becoming cities.
Based on everything he’s read, Miller said there’s ‘never been an unfavorable situation once (cityhood) has taken place.?
Prior to the actual incorporation as a city, Miller said the issue is ’emotional and very debated? in the community. In Clarkston, Miller said cityhood was a ‘tremendously big. . .hot. . .emotional issue.?
Once cityhood occurs, Miller said it’s ‘nothing but positive? for the incorporating community and the surrounding communities.
‘I would hope that (Oxford) township would see the advantage of the village becoming a city,? Miller said. ‘If we grow favorably, the surrounding communities are going to benefit. Who’s not going to benefit from a well-developed and maintained downtown, a well-policed community, streets that are well-maintained and kept clean? There’s no way the surrounding communities are not going to benefit.?
Miller said the only thing the township would ‘lose? is the tax revenue village residents currently pay it.
Stevens expressed his concern that if the village became a city, it would ‘eliminate? residents? ‘influence? on the township board via the ballot box.
‘We don’t have it now,? retorted village resident Romayne Allen, wife of council President Steve Allen. ‘They (township officials) don’t care what our opinion is.?
Allen also voiced her displeasure with the level of services she receives from the township.
‘I don’t see any services (from the township),? Allen said. ‘I’m complaining about paying taxes to the township and not seeing any benefit from it. You say services, I say what services??
Stevens asked Miller if the village became a city and residents no longer paid millage to the township parks and recreation department, would they be charged a user fee?
Miller didn’t know the answer, but village resident and former council President Joe Bullen did.
He said because each village resident has made an ‘investment? in the township parks via their tax dollars, the new city and township would have to ‘work out an agreement? whereby either the invested money was ‘paid back? or city residents were guaranteed continued usage. Bullen said he believed the latter would probably happen.
It was also asked if city residents could continue to use the Oxford Public Library, located in the township. The library’s operating and bond debt millages are paid to the township.
Miller said under the law, city residents would continue to pay for their share of the library and continue to use it as they did when they were village/township residents. Despite the change in governments, he said ‘library agreements stay in place.?
Stevens said he views creating one government for all of Oxford, township and village, as a ‘better solution? than just cityhood for the village.
Stevens noted that if the village did become a city, it would ‘still be surrounded by the township? and ‘still have to interact with the township.?
Village resident George Herring, chairman of the Oxford Township Planning Commission, agreed with the one government concept.
‘We’re all one Oxford. As soon as we understand that, we’ll become a better Oxford,? Herring said. ‘If we can’t get to one government for Oxford, then it doesn’t work for me. All I see is entities taking money from both pockets.?
Even Village Police Chief Mike Neymanowski expressed his belief in one Oxford.
‘We’re all Oxford, that’s how I look at it,? the chief said, adding that more ‘citizen involvement? is needed. ‘The key is getting people more informed.?
Miller told this reporter there’s ‘nothing I’d love to see more than one total, unified government? in place of the township/village system, but ‘how is the key word.?
To help accomplish this, Miller said he believes cityhood for the village is an ‘obvious place to start.?
If the village was to incorporate as a city and some ‘surrounding built-up areas? of the township ‘abutting? the city wished to ‘pursue annexation,? he would ‘welcome them with open arms.?
‘How do you eat a 5,000-pound elephant? One bite at a time,? Miller said.
Miller distributed a form letter (see its contents in the shaded box) at the meeting, which he urged interested attendees to copy and distribute to friends and neigbors.
The letter urges its receivers to attend the Tuesday, June 10 village council meeting and voice their opinions on the cityhood issue.
‘It will give us some direction,? Miller said. ‘If it’s the will of the people, this will move forward. If not, it won’t.?
Miller noted he was ‘quite surprised? that following the meeting ‘several folks? stopped by his house and he received ‘several phone calls,? all voicing support for cityhood.