If the special election's unofficial results are confirmed, the town of 75 would lose its local government and give operational control to Marion County.SWAN, Iowa — A special election on Tuesday presented residents of Swan, IA with a tough question: Whether they wanted to disincorporate their tiny town of 75, located about a half hour drive from Des Moines.20 said 'yes' and 14 said 'no,' according to unofficial results.Swan's city council first proposed disincorporation in March due to a loss of interest in local ...
If the special election's unofficial results are confirmed, the town of 75 would lose its local government and give operational control to Marion County.
SWAN, Iowa — A special election on Tuesday presented residents of Swan, IA with a tough question: Whether they wanted to disincorporate their tiny town of 75, located about a half hour drive from Des Moines.
20 said 'yes' and 14 said 'no,' according to unofficial results.
Swan's city council first proposed disincorporation in March due to a loss of interest in local government and financial hardship.
Pending verification of the special election results by the Marion County Board of Supervisors, Swan will officially disincorporate, ceding operational control Marion County.
Though Swan would lack independent government, residents hope the town will retain its charm.
"As a lifelong resident of Swan and with family history here that goes back generations, I'm sad to see the town unincorporate. But it takes interested and engaged citizens to keep things running and in a community this size, that gets harder as time goes on," Swan Mayor Stacy Harding said in a statement to Local 5.
One lifelong resident, Sam Heywood, echoes the same sadness as Harding, but he also understands why the change is being made.
"It definitely does suck to see," Heywood said. "There were reasons for it, so my feelings on it are kind of mixed."
Steve Gordon technically lives a few miles away from Swan, but he told Local 5 he identifies with the city as he was born and raised there. He said he hopes the town doesn't change much, as he has grandchildren growing up in Swan.
"I had a good life in Swan," Gordon said. "As a child, oh, we had fun in that little town. I was really happy when my daughter and son-in-law got a place there."
Swan would lose some of its power, but residents don't believe it will lose the parts that make it unique.
"I think people will still be very 'small-town,' talking to each other and being very friendly," Heywood said.