PUBLIC STATEMENT

Re: Detachment of the Village of Dalton from Sugar Creek Township and Conformity of Boundaries

The government of the Village of Dalton is primarily concerned with the health, safety, financial
position, and general well-being of its citizens and Village. Thus, the Council and Mayor of Dalton
have been concerned regarding the fact that the citizens of the Village of Dalton are governed by both
the township of Sugar Creek and the Village of Dalton. Although this dual governmental role does
have some benefits, it also produces serious challenges for its citizens.

The purpose of this notice is to inform you that the Council for the Village of Dalton has decided to
petition the Wayne County Commissioners for Detachment from the Township and Conformity of its
Boundaries (Detachment and Conformity.) Upon the filing of its Petition for Detachment and
Conformity, the Wayne County Commissioners will ultimately decide whether you will continue to be
governed by Sugar Creek Township and the Village of Dalton, or whether you will only be governed
by the Village of Dalton.

Village officials would like to outline for you the specific reasons it has been considering Detachment
and Conformity.

(1) Financial Impact of Dual Government: Citizens in the Village of Dalton are taxed locally by
both the Village of Dalton and Sugar Creek Township. The taxes you pay to Sugar Creek
Township are collected through your real estate taxes. Besides regular real estate taxes,
citizens in the Village of Dalton also pay a Road and Bridge Levy for roads and bridges that
exist outside the Village of Dalton corporation limits.

Village officials requested financial documents from Sugar Creek Township, because Village
officials wanted to determine the total amount of expenditures made by the Township and how
those expenditures may have benefited or hurt the citizens of the Village of Dalton. After
compiling the information, it has been determined that over the last five (5) years, Sugar Creek
Township has spent $1,000,565.34 from its regular fund for fire and EMS services, Legal fees,
Trustee and Fiscal Officer Salaries, and miscellaneous other expenses. Of said amount,
citizens of the Village paid approximately 28%, or $280,158.30, of the total.

Similarly, the Township records showed that over the last five (5) years, the Township
expended $2,244,629.60 from the Road and Bridge Levy fund. Of that total, Village residents
paid approximately 28%, or $628,496.29, of the total. None of the expenditures from the
Road and Bridge Levy benefitted roads or bridges within the corporation limit of the Village
of Dalton, US 30, or State Route 94.

It could be argued that the citizens of the Village of Dalton are subjected to double taxation.
While citizens of the Village of Dalton pay taxes to Sugar Creek Township for the Road and
Bridge Levy, fire and EMS services, legal fees, and salaries, citizens also pay the Village of
Dalton for the same services. Village citizens receive little to no benefit from Sugar Creek
Township.

If Detachment and Conformity is granted to the citizens of the Village of Dalton, more funds
will be available to the Village to meet the needs of its citizens. Eventually, citizens of the
Village may also find that their real estate taxes are reduced. If Village citizens are not a part
 -2-

of Sugar Creek Township when the Road and Bridge Levy expires, Village citizens will no
longer pay taxes pursuant to said Levy.

(2) Focused Representation and Conflicts: There are many times when the interests of residents
outside of the Village of Dalton are different than the interests of citizens of the Village of
Dalton. Incorporated areas and unincorporated areas have different needs. Thus, Township
Trustees may be placed in a position of conflict and thus unable to adequately focus its
representation on the needs of its constituency. For example, Village officials feel that it is
extremely important to have twenty-four (24) hour staffed fire protection and EMS services as
the Village has a school, nursing home, multiple businesses, and personal residences located
within its boundaries. However, Township officials have spent considerable time and
financial resources in attempting to eliminate the fire district and ultimately return the Dalton
Fire Department to a volunteer-only entity. If the Township is successful in limiting the fire
protection and EMS services available in the Village, citizens of the Village will suffer and
hazard insurance rates may increase.

Village officials have the ability to solely focus on the well-being of citizens of the Village of
Dalton.

(3) Limitation of Township: Sugar Creek Trustees are limited by the laws of the State of Ohio,
and therefore, some actions that Village citizens would like them to take are prohibited by law.
For example, the Trustees of Sugar Creek are prohibited from using any Road and Bridge
Levy funds to repair, improve, or maintain roads or bridges located within the Village of
Dalton. Although the Trustees could have excepted citizens of the Village of Dalton from
this Levy, they did not. Thus, Village citizens are required to pay funds for roads and bridges
that do not directly benefit them. Additionally, Sugar Creek Township does not contribute to
the expense of providing fire protection and EMS services to Village citizens. Instead, the
Village of Dalton is solely responsible for that expense.

Currently, as citizens of the Township of Sugar Creek, you have the right to participate in elections
regarding Sugar Creek Township. If Detachment and Conformity is approved, you will no longer
have that right. However, you will also not be impacted by Sugar Creek Township taxes or unfocused
representation.

Village officials are interested in your opinion. Please contact your Village Councilperson, Mayor
Cox, or Village Hall to voice your opinion, concerns, or questions. Contact information is provided,
below:

Mayor Judith K. Cox or Village Hall: 330-828-2221

Council President Dennis Finley: 330-828-8221
Council Financial Chairperson Steven Gerber: 330-828-8316
Councilperson Patrick Sword: 330-828-2709
Councilperson John Hisey: 330-828-0846
Councilperson Larry West: 330-201-4985
Councilperson Michael Gamble: 330-209-8098