Dear Editor,

As I and my neighbors have waited for, the State of Ohio legal system still has some common sense. The Ohio Supreme Court has refused to hear the case of City of Salem vs Columbiana County Board of Commissioners et al.

I would like to say our Perry Township has won the battle, but neither side really wins due to the high costs of the legal fees. We do retain our independence, identity, and our Perry Township services, which are second to none.

The purpose of this letter is to thank the individuals responsible for the successful outcome of the idiotic attempt to annex checkerboard homes on Colonial, Beechwood, Hampton Place and Countryside Drive.

I wish to personally thank the following: two of the three Columbiana County Commissioners – Mike Halleck and Tim Ginter – and past Commissioner Tim Weigle; the Court Judges that heard our case and agreed with us; Perry township legal staff of Roderick Linton Belfance, LLP; Perry Township Trustees; James Foster; Jeremy Corbisello; the late Stephen Navoyosky; and Laurie Butcher. If I have missed anyone, please accept my apology.

Now, I have one last item, a question for the Salem mayor. Were all the threats, harassment and intimidation worth it? I will refer to my thought of a vendetta against a few of our Perry Township residents. This also applies to all but two of the members of city council. The manpower and legal costs of wasted tens of thousands of dollars could have been better spent. For instance, that amount would have made a nice pay raise for the Salem Police Department and the Salem Fire Department. This would have been well received and helped the burden on the taxpayer. I am awaiting the outcome of future city elections. The taxpayers of Salem deserve much better representation.

William M. Hupp

Perry Township