Farmersville Mayor Nick Lamb is speaking out about Farmersville’s 2031 dissolution vote triggered by Ohio House Bill 331.
In a statement issued Sunday, Feb. 1, Mayor Nick Lamb said, “Recent coverage by the Twin Creek Times and the Dayton Daily News has raised understandable concern among Farmersville residents regarding Ohio House Bill 331 and what it could mean for the future of our village. I want to address this directly, explain what the law does, and explain what I believe the State of Ohio is ultimately working toward.”
House Bill 331 and Dissolution
House Bill 331 became law in April 2025 and requires Ohio villages to offer key services and place candidates for elected positions on each ballot, or else face a mandatory dissolution vote after each U.S. Census. For Farmersville, which had zero candidates for its four open council seats in 2025, this means that the November 2031 election (following the 2030 Census), will include this ballot language: “Shall the village of (Farmersville) surrender its corporate powers?” Full legislation
“It is critical to understand that dissolution is not automatic. The decision would rest entirely with the voters of Farmersville.”
Lamb also noted his own responsibility for this situation. “While I was elected mayor in 2019, I was appointed to the position in 2023 when no candidates ran for the office. That reality (while common in small communities) contributes to the issue created by this law. We cannot change the past, but we can and are taking responsibility for the future.”
Statehouse Questions
Mayor Lamb also used his statement to share his view on a larger issue with this legislation.
“Based on conversations with state legislators, including State Representative Tom Young (Washington Township), a primary sponsor of House Bill 331, I believe this bill is step one of a broader statewide consolidation effort,” he said. "If villages are dissolved into townships first, and townships are later dissolved or consolidated, the State achieves maximum consolidation. Where do they all go? The answer is fewer, larger sub-county governments. In my opinion, this is why villages are being targeted before townships."
State Representative Rodney Creech disagrees. In an interview Monday Creech said of consolidation, “It may be his view [Mayor Lamb] and how he feels, but I can tell you that I think the majority of us would fight, fight, fight for township and local government. I think what the bill does, it's an exit strategy for villages that are not self sustaining and not providing the services that are needed.”
“I've been doing this for 18 years, and although there has been a movement off and on to do away with townships, it'll never happen,” Creech said. “because township government is so powerful and so efficient.”
Creech said Monday he regrets his vote on the legislation due to its retroactive requirements on elections that are affecting villages like Farmersville.
From the Montgomery County standpoint, Auditor Karl Keith, who would be on the review committee for villages if he is in the role in 2031 said, “It’s too early to tell what impact it will have here in Montgomery County. The bill requires the County Auditor to participate in the review process for villages upon the completion of the 2030 census. At that time we will make plans with the other officeholders to carry out the new law.”
Future Plans
Lamb said the Village has a plan to ensure participation in future elections. This includes:
Moving council meetings to a monthly schedule
Increasing council compensation per meeting
Commitments from currently appointed members to run for office
Active recruitment of engaged community members
The Mayor’s personal commitment to appear on the ballot when his term expires
“While these actions will not change the 2030 Census evaluation period,” the Mayor noted. “they will position Farmersville for the 2040 Census and beyond.”
“I have no doubt that Farmersville residents, when presented with a dissolution vote, will overwhelmingly choose to keep our village.”
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