In the requirements for surrender of the charter there's a specific notation on how you might surrender one charter for another. This option sure would open the door to exclude those of us who want out of the city from the charter. It also allows those who like taxes and politicians to recharter their area. This may be an excellent compromise that gives everyone what they want and might bring peace to our community. Here's the section I'm referencing:

6-1-303. Termination of charter — New charter. —
If a majority of the votes cast in the election favor the termination of this form of government, the provisions of this charter shall terminate at one (1) minute after midnight (12:01 a.m.) on the sixtieth day next following the date of the election, unless this falls upon Sunday or a holiday, in which case it shall terminate at one (1) minute after midnight (12:01 a.m.) on the next day. If, before the adoption of this charter, the municipality functioned under a different charter, then upon termination of this charter the prior charter shall become effective at the time provided for in this section. Territory previously unincorporated shall revert to that status. Another charter, however, may be adopted, and the question of whether or not another charter shall be adopted may be placed on the ballots used in the election mentioned in this section, if the petition filed requests that, and if all other necessary legal steps to adopt the other charter have been taken.


[Acts 1991, ch. 154, § 1.]

I think it will still affect us if we DONT get a say Herb. So, it is all or nothing for this to work. If all the way gone makes people happy I can live with it. The dump still can be stopped if someone will just take a few acres and get us a city park then whatever happens after that the dump is whipped.

I'm somewhat confused. Are you saying the city, for example, could be split down the middle with half being incorporated and the other half not or can people choose what areas of Coopertown can be incorporated?

So far the only place I've been able to locate a file on the web with the charter in it it was in PDF form...and my crappy little dinosaur computer can't download or view those. Does anyone have the ability to send a copy of it via email? Or, if not, where else might I easily find a readable copy of it just so I know what exactly it is for myself? Thanks!

Faye

Paul, as I read the charter it can be surrendered and then a new charter can be voted in. The boundaries of the new charter can be whatever it takes to include 1500 citizens. This new town could include Coopertown proper (where the schools and city hall are located), and the 49 corridor including the dump site. This would probably include most of those citizens who are afraid the dump is still alive, plus those who like taxing and spending. The only downside I see is that it might exclude some individuals that are looking for a town to run or an elected position of power.

Gal, I have a copy of the charter law but it is pdf format as well. I don't own Adobe Acrobat, but I do have their free Acrobat Reader. You can get it here:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

If you want a copy of the Charter law, just send me an email.

Herb

I have another question. If surrendering the charter is on the ballot, can you vote for the surrender and also vote for the mayor of your choice if the surrender fails?

See my post under landfill section.

Herb, I would like you to read the post in " The Dump, Dead or Dormant" because this thread and that thread go hand in hand. According to the article I posted, the charter is pretty much keeping the dump out.

At least we always have this as an alternative if things turn to shambles and a property tax rears its ugly head, becoming a near reality. Lets keep this avenue in mind as an 'alamo". I know my neighbors in the old 431 area feel the same. This community certainly does not need a scene like the storming of the Bastele

Buzzy/ Those of us in the 431 end of City already have dump nearby to contend with. Personally I could care less if they start a dump on the other end of Town. Let them enjoy the odor and the flies like we have to.

AND remember you heard it from your favorite squirrel first!!!

Are we going to have anyone come forward and lead the fight to drop the charter? With the way things are going I certainly cannot afford a big tax bill on top of everything else in this economy. My neighbors are scaring me talking about neighborhood patrols to keep house robberys down. They are saying my car & house insurance will be going up too!

I would be surprised if someone did not try to spread fear of a burgular ring after all this. It is only human nature to do so. Well, I can honestly say that I have seen the sheriff deputies patoroling more on my roads than the CPD was during Crosby's time. I have seen the CPD recently on my roads as well as the RCSO. The whole make ticket money for CPD was an embarrassment and we voted them out because of it. It was a small police force before and there was not any magical "decrease" in crime when we ratched up the # of officers as there just isn't much in this area. And I sure feel there is little reason to believe it will change when we fall back to what we had before.

Fact is, the people are already naturally formed into commmunity watch groups out of being good neighbors who keep up with each other. I suppose you might think that if we are more like a police state stopping everyone for minor traffic violations and checking ID's (that would make us just like in Nazi Germany). oOwever, we are trying to be based on freedom for all men and the assumption of innoncence until prove guilty as to not impede anyone unfairly like the Kings of old did to the non ruling class of people, daily.

I realize it is not perfect to try to let people be FREE to do what they want, as long as it does not hurt another or me. I think the alternative approach eventually causes anarchy by forcing people to change it on their own any way they are able (revolting!). In our free society we are allowed to change things by using the rule of law and electing our own leaders to be our representatives when making important decisions that affect the many. That is why we have been able to be such a strong people and also why they want to take us down. Now we are so strong and brave that many would love to be allowed to live amongst us. They do this while there are others who hate us who wish to keep their women, slaves or children in their so called "proper place" that we threaten. The feel that we are disturbing these neandertal like traditions with our "western" views, they want the USA gone from the face of the earth. It makes it easy for us to say they are evil and to also see why we are accepted so well by freedom lovers everywhere like a virus that spreads fast. At least before Bush. I will admit it as a conservative that I think he hosed us up. He may have ruined the Republican party for good. Ron Paul is the only good one left as I see it.