Mars, Adams residents contemplate merger at final town hall
ADAMS TWP — The potential Mars-Adams Township merger stems from conversations last November surrounding the future of the Mars library, according to Russell Ford, chairman of the township’s supervisors.
But the library, Ford insists, is not driving the merger. In fact, the library “is just a small piece of the pie,” in an effort that elected officials from both municipalities largely support. It impacts policing and community safety, public works, parks and recreation, water, infrastructure and taxation.
“We’re trying and looking to do what we believe is in the best interest of the community,” Ford said during a town hall Thursday night, Oct. 29. “Yeah, we put ‘Yes’ on the signs, because we believe in the merger. We want the merger. And every ‘Yes’ sign that you see out there is positioned in a place where somebody is for the merger. We have talked to the people. And yes, they wanted to do the merger. And yes, we’ve wanted to be transparent.”
With just days remaining until Mars and Adams Township voters determine the fate of their municipalities, residents packed the Adams Township municipal building Thursday for the sixth and final meeting on the potential merger.
The question of merging will be on the ballots of Mars and Adams voters on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. If voters approve the merger measure, the two will begin the process of merging into a single municipality planned to be dubbed Mars Township. The process would be set to finish by Jan. 1, 2028.
Mars and Adams Township officials have been laying the groundwork for a merger for months, having distributed fact sheets to residents and holding public meetings to inform the public on why the merger is being proposed, and how it would impact both municipalities.
“The plan for the proposed merger is to bring together our community for a more efficient, financially stable and stronger future. The goal is to improve services, manage resources and maintain the character and quality of life we all value by having one local government,” the fact sheet reads.
Thursday’s meeting went through clarifications on how a merger could benefit the communities. For Mars, taxes would be lowered from 25.33 mills to Adams’ 3.75 mills; the borough would have 24/7 police coverage, there would be increased staffing for departments like public works, zoning and parks and recreation, “expanded resources for infrastructure and economic development” and the library would remain in Mars.
A big pitch toward Adams Township residents remains taking in the downtown Mars business district, along with new parks and recreation facilities.
“I really think this is a win-win for both communities. I think this is an exciting time for both communities to have a vision of us being together, which we already kind of are,” said Mars council member Jana Snavely. “I want to encourage you to think beyond now, think about the future, and the combining of the communities in the long term is going to be a real benefit.”
Elected officials from both communities acknowledge change can be hard, but emphasized they believe the merger would be good for both communities in the short and long term.
“I got to thinking: It is our responsibility, it’s not just about now. It’s for the future,” said Ron Nacey, Adams Township supervisor. “It’s our responsibility to make sure we do the right thing for the next generations. Whether it goes through or not, the effort has been put forth to try and do something here that’s going to work now, and in the future.”
“We have a responsibility to make things right for the future, and I hope what we do is the right thing. And I think it is, and I hope for their sake that we are doing the right thing,” Nacey added.
In recent weeks, Mars council members and Mayor Gregg Hartung have said they expect the vote on the merger to be close, acknowledging they have seen both support and opposition in their community.
Mike Fleming, president of Mars Borough Council, said he has observed the borough’s older, longtime residents being more resistant to the merger, while the younger residents think the move makes sense. Hartung called the potential outcome of Tuesday’s vote a “guesstimate.”
Between Oct. 2 and Sunday, the Butler Eagle received 233 responses to a survey on the merger — 173 from Adams Township and 60 from Mars. The survey was only open to residents of the two municipalities.
In total, 128 residents — 54.9% of respondents — stated their intention to vote yes for the merger ballot initiative, with 91 (39.1%) intending to vote no and 14 residents (6%) choosing “undecided.”
“If this merger goes through, it will probably be nice, but it might not be. I’m not forcing anybody to vote yes, I’m not forcing anybody to say no,” Bill Lambert, Mars council member, said Thursday night. “My mind hasn’t been made up yet. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
