CIC Picks Up the Challenge

For the first time in the history of our community, there is an offer on the table for merger discussions between the City and the Township.

The proposal comes from CIC (Sylvania Community Improvement Corporation) and includes assembling a core committee with two representatives of the City and two from the Township as leaders, with two members of CIC acting as facilitators. It suggests that Mark Luetke and another Council member could represent the City, with DeeDee Liedel and perhaps Dave Simko representing the Township.

This committee could then determine how many more members should be added to the committee from the ranks of City and Township residents, businesses, non-profits, and so forth.

Next, the committee will identify key issues that need to be addressed early in the process, with the goal of assembling information on the "pros and cons" of whether or not to continue the study. The information accumulated by the committee would then be presented to residents for consideration and review prior to calling for a vote. It would also set meeting schedules and time frame for completion of milestones and would fix times and locations for public involvement and communication.

A suggested schedule devotes March and April to organization and planning, May for initiating the regular public meeting, communication and fact finding and June for developing a plan for further steps and schedule.

CIC, in its proposal, feels that continued exploration of a merger study is in the best interest of community residents and businesses and is excited to participate.

The CIC proposal will be brought up for discussion at a city council meeting by Mark Luetke, chairman of the Human Resources and Community Relations Committee, on Monday March 20. (Note: the proposal was accepted by Council.)

The Board of the Sylvania Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the proposal and offered to play a lead role in educating the business community on the potential impact of a merger study.


Jack MacMillan
For Sylvania AdVantage
5733 Sun Valley Blvd.
Sylvania, OH 43560

Phone: 419.885.1734
Fax: 419.891.0696
macmillan@sev.org