Will Odessa dissolve as a village?

Jan 19, 2010 at 01:53 pm by Observer-Review


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Will Odessa dissolve as a village?

ODESSA—If the village of Odessa were to dissolve, then a number of services would disappear or change.
Mayor Keith Pierce said in addition to that, he felt residents would not get the representation they deserve.  He explained there is talk among residents to pay for a survey to see if it would be cost effective to dissolve the village or not.  Pierce added it was something the board was checking into before it was brought up by residents.
“There are a number of steps involved with the state,” said Pierce.
He explained the village can proceed with the survey, or residents can start a petition telling the village to proceed.  Pierce said he would prefer it if the residents did a petition.
“I’d rather get a sense that’s what the residents want,” he said.
Pierce explained the average cost to do the survey is $45,000.  He added there is a grant the village could apply for that would cover all but 10 percent of the cost, roughly $4,500.
Pierce said if the village did dissolve, residents would lose a number of services like brush pick up, recycling, and Christmas tree removal.
He added the fire department would probably have to become a fire company, because it is currently a village department.  Pierce said that is something the fire chief is looking into now.
The water district would still be present though.  Pierce said residents would still have to pay for the bond.  He added the townships of Catharine and Montour would have to hire someone to take care of the project.
“I don’t think it would save money,” said Pierce.  He added residents would lose some of their say in local politics if the village dissolved.
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