EVANSVILLE —Only one of the 10 people who currently make up the two elected bodies of Vanderburgh County government, including none of the county commissioners, live outside the city limits of Evansville.
The three county commissioners must pass a consolidation proposal identical to the one passed by city council for the issue to go to a referendum, probably in 2012.
But for at least many of the non-city residents who oppose the current consolidation proposal those 10 county officials represent their interests. Or at least that's the message they're sending in opposition against the proposal.
Ron Adler, who described himself as being from "extreme rural part" of the county told both bodies during a joint public hearing last month that he feels a bond with the county commissioners. He doesn't believe the same connection would exist under the current proposal, which calls for a mayor and an 11-member common council.
"Once in awhile, one of (the commissioners) is actually from our neighborhood," he told the officials. "My thoughts are is if I'm still out here, and we have a mayor running everything. I feel a little left out."
But that mayor - or at least the next mayor of Evansville - could also potentially be one of the county officials to whom Adler was making his plea. Republican Lloyd Winnecke, the current president of the commissioners, is running for mayor this year. If Winnecke wins next month's primary against Douglas DeGroot, his opponent in November could potentially be Troy Tornatta, who also served as a commissioner. Tornatta will face country treasurer Rick Davis in the Democratic primary. Current councilman Russ Lloyd Jr. is also a former mayor of Evansville. His and council colleague Stephanie Terry's districts are almost completely within city limits.
The current consolidation proposal calls for a common council made up of eight districts and three at-large members.
Steve Schaefer, a vice president of the Chamber of Commerce of Southwestern Indiana and a consolidation supporter, argued that consolidation would better represent non-city residents. He pointed out that any, or all, of the three at-large members could conceivably reside from outside current city limits and even the mayor ¿ the office many non-city residents took aim at in their testimony against consolidation ¿ could reside from outside the city under the new government.
"There's no debate, no matter which way you cut it, representation gets better with this plan with reorganization," he said.
Each of the eight districts comprise of about 21,500 people each. All three at-large members of the current county council currently reside within city limits. The only current representative from outside the council is James Raben.
Raben said fears from non-city residents are justified, noting that many of the major questions non-city residents remained unanswered. While he commended the citizen committee that put together the current proposal, he noted the proposal leaves many of the issues raised until a potential referendum is passed and a transition council would be put in place.
"They're concerned about a lot of issues. Let's be frank here, people live outside the city because that's what they want to do. They like their more simplistic life. They'd like to be able to burn a pile or brush or have target practice with their shotgun."
That transitional council would be tasked with adopting ordinances for the new government as well as drawing taxing district bounders and the common council districts.
Last month, commissioner Stephen Melcher proclaimed he would not support any final proposal that did not require separate voter approval from those outside of the city limits. Currently, if a proposal is placed on the ballot, a countywide majority is needed for approval. Raben said he too wants the non-city residents to have their own voice in whether to merge. Any final proposal does not need approval from the county council before it goes to referendum.
Melcher denied his stance was merely a product of complaints from non-city residents.
"I've got to watch out for the county people outside of the city limits, but I also have to watch out for in the city limits (too)," Melcher said. "I want to see if the city (residents) wants to consolidate with the county, and I want to see if the county (residents) wants to consolidate with the city.'
While all of his colleagues reside within the city, Raben said he believes non-city residents feel comfortable expressing their concerns to any of them as well as three commissioners.
"Speaking for the people in German Township, Armstrong Township and Perry Township, those people like things they way they are," he said.
Adler ended his comments during the public hearing last month by saying he is afraid that non-city residents will lose some of their separate identity many of them are proud of. While supporters argue a merged government is the first step for a new and improved image, Bruce Blackford, the president of the Vanderburgh Farm Bureau says it's easy to see why non-city residents already feel left behind.
"How many people would be willing to give up the Evansville name and just go by Vanderburgh County?" he said.