September 2025
Next Monthly Meeting - Monday, October 13th, 2025, 6:30pm, Morral Fire Department Meeting Room
The Property Rights Fight Lives On
“Never” Said At The September 2025 Public Meeting by two council members, in regards to when does the attempt to stop controlling peoples properties end.
What started out as a simple question of what else could face scrutiny was answered at this last meeting on the 8th. The answer was, anything that bothers them about your property.
This isn't just about animal rights, but it's about YOUR property rights.
They were asked why the Morral Newsletter written by Karen Hughes running for council and the wife of council member Scott Hughes, didn’t include the fact that they wish to Ban livestock animals. Simply put they said it didn't need to be in there because it wasn't concrete yet, but they did add other things that weren't concrete in the newsletter including the Christmas celebration. Another answer they gave of why it wasn't included was because “if the villagers actually cared they would come to the meetings”. It was also said that you can't include everything in the newsletter because it would be too long. One council member also said that villagers wouldn't be able to understand what the ordinance means and that it’s only an “idea”. And if it was even said it was only an idea in the newsletter, that the villagers would take it as it's exactly this and raise hell. Simply stating that everyone would take it as it is and so it needs to be withheld. And this was said by three separate council members, two of which are rerunning.
Another thing mentioned was that Deb Thibaut and Karen Hughes allegedly walked around the entire village of Morral and knocked on several doors to get people's “ideas” and signatures to completely ban livestock. However there were people at the meeting who said they have cameras on their properties and no one once came to their door. But they claim the majority of Morral was on their side… an interesting fact about Morral we have over 160 houses with residents, they admitted they only interviewed 32 residential households and that only three people told them no. Now I'm not the best at math but 32 households does not even sound close to half of 160 plus households. So I'm curious as to how the majority of Morral is on their side. It was also blamed on a Morral resident that this survey happened in the first place, with a different council member talking down and belittling another council member in its regards, scolding her like a child. Real mature of you unnamed jackass who I know is reading this, real mature.
If such an ordinance was put in place anyone who goes against it could face up to $250+ in fines that will be enforced by The Village Council.
When a council member said that they don't want to look in their neighbor's yard and see a cow, she was asked why does your neighbor's yard bother you, for her to then say she doesn't care what her neighbors have. So which is it? Do you care what your neighbors have or don't you? And if you don't then why does the livestock and other issues bring such an importance to you if it doesn't matter what your neighbors have or don't.
However our Mayor Marjorie Moyer had found a better ordinance idea from the village of Shreve Ohio, to make things more of a nuisance issue rather than a livestock issue (at the bottom of this article is a copy of Shreve’s ordinance, which is simply an idea base for Morral to try and follow)
There is now also a village committee to work on a nuisance ordinance and to also bring in information regarding animals. İf you would like to join that committee I very heavily recommend that you reach out to the Mayor.
There was also still an argument that our village is not a farming community, when 81% of our village is farmland. With more information in my last article on how we in fact live in a farming community. And based on recent events, and how some people feel the village should be vs. how it is, please remember folks, we don’t live in an HOA, we live in a happy farming community, and if anyone knocks on your door saying “hey sign this”, don’t. You already pay mortgage and property taxes, why on earth are you also going to pay an HOA to tell you what to do with your own land? Paying for someone to take your freedom is crazy. And to add on to more Farming Businesses inside of Mortal, don't forget we have Farmers Boy and the Elevator, which is another company that they have spoken with individuals they want shut down and to never run again.
As there was also a question raised between the villagers when it had been mentioned that the village can afford to pay $10,000 on a new road, but three members on council had stated barely 5 minutes prior that they can't afford to put Thibaut's ordinance idea on the ballot to see if it's what the people really want, which is far less money than our half of the road cost. Leading the village discussion outside of meetings to say that again this is intentional to make sure that villagers don't actually know what's going on and to only find that their rights have been taken away. As villagers have gotten together after these meetings and discussed, this one will never stop with just livestock, this is about control over properties to make things as similar to an HOA as possible. And we all agree we're already paying mortgages and property taxes along with their sewer taxes they charge us every couple of months, so why on Earth would we also want to pay them to tell us what we can and cannot do with our properties??
One of the council members also said they want everything to be 10ft off of your property lot from other properties and roads. Leading a villager to ask and not be answered, “is this so the village of Morral can have more property that I pay for?”
The town solicitor also said that the previous ordinance idea that was listed in last month's article has several issues and that he has seen them cause major problems in the past in other villages, and does not recommend that ordinance idea at all.
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Should married couples be allowed to serve on council together? Sounds a bit biased to many villagers. Outside of meetings villagers have formed a group chat, not to mention having many in person discussions, and there has been many discussions regarding the idea of a long lasting relationship couple being allowed to serve on council together. Personally I can see both sides to this, but it’s also because I can see both sides that I must agree with the villagers here.
I do know that I’ve always felt more comfortable with public communities when I have had someone I am very close to beside me, it’s the comfort of knowing I’m not alone. Even at the young, but still adult age of 27, I still hate doing things alone most of the time, call it anxiety. I’ve even been trying to convince a couple people I’m close with to come to the meetings so I’m not alone. And I know when serving on council in my 4-H clubs growing up I also wanted someone beside me I could trust and knew would most of the time stand by with the same thinking decisions I had…. Which is why I can see the biased approach here. Even if a couple disagrees on something, it still won’t help when they do agree. People’s thoughts are all too often wondering “I bet they only voted the same because they’re together and not because they actually feel the same way”.
Now I’m not telling you to not vote for the spouse running for council, personally as angry as I am regarding recent events, I still much prefer her to someone else re-running, and so I’m not telling you to vote for her either, what I am saying is make your decisions wisely!
However you vote, make sure it’s for how you feel. Not based on other people’s feelings, just your own.
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Ohio State Laws have updated, and the council has accepted the new ordinance (2025-002) written by the village solicitor as an adaption of the new state law, any vehicles that go under the speed of 35miles an hour must have working lights, turn signals, license plates, an inspection from the sheriff office, and of course you must have a drivers license.
If that didn’t already sound in my own words, freaking deranged. It includes mowers, and trust me the people at the last meeting, myself included and some of the council weren’t thrilled with any of this at all, some members not caring at all. But for those of us who like mowing for more than ourselves, have multiple properties, etc… The idea of having to have all of the above done to our mowers just to not risk a ticket driving on the streets, sounds absolutely insane.
Not to mention what about farmers and their tractors? People who like to drive their atv’s, gators, golfcarts, etc? Everyone is going to look forward to getting a ticket from this point on thanks to an unneeded law. So if you have a child mowing yards for the neighborhood for a small profit over the summer, that mower better be inspected and up to code, and that child better have a license. That is unless the council decides to amend the law for our village. But until that may hopefully soon happen, better be careful out there folks!
On the bright side however, council member Barb Forry said she did talk with a local deputy and he informed her that so long as no one does anything crazy, he at the least has no plans to pull anyone over for such crazy things.
Another thing to watch out for though is any neighbors you may have that dislike you, they could happily call law enforcement, so again, be careful everyone! As it did come up in the meeting that some people have some neighbors that love wasting law enforcement time for stupid matters. If you’re one of these people, please go outside and touch some grass, thank you!
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Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 during the General Election. The current people running for Village Council are: Barb Forry, Amber Belcher, Darla Hicks, Deb Thibaut, and Karen Hughes. No known write-in’s at this time.
If anyone else is running, please let me know and I will add you to the list of names above.
Remember that next month on Saturday October 11th is The Fireman’s Festival, where we will be celebrating 150 years! Linda Bennet will be baking a spectacular cake for the celebration, along with cupcakes. There will also be a table of memorabilia to showcase this little farming community's beautiful history.
The parade will be starting at 3pm, featuring Firetrucks, Monster Trucks, Ponies, and more. The festival will be from 4-9pm-ish. There will be a live performance by The Dudley Creek Band starting at 5pm, multiple vendors, food trucks, bingo, an inflatable for children, games, raffles, etc…
If you’d like to set up as a vendor, please contact Amber Belcher for information, cost to be a vendor is a simple donation to the Salt Rock Fire Department. (I can’t speak for who all will be a vendor, but I myself do intend to be one with a small set up, come check out my booth (Snowing Roses) at the festival!)
The event is also on Facebook, be sure to keep an eye on it for more information to come on both the event page, and also on: Village of Morral Community News and Activities.
Another Facebook page to keep an eye on is: The News of the Village of Morral, Ohio.
Don’t forget about the public meeting regarding the Sewer System, as dates have been slightly altered, they’re now at 12pm on Tuesday, September 16th, 2025, and at 7pm on Wednesday, September 17th, 2025. Any questions you have about the sewer, now's the time to get your answers. At these meetings you may also get information regarding tree cutting in October, as it is part of the sewer plans.
October 1st-3rd, 7am-5pm Daily, there will be Tree Cutters in town. If you have a tree on the list, they're supposed to come knocking a few days prior to starting, and all should be wearing badges… More information can be found at the Firehouse in the Meeting Room on the Bulletin Board (right to the door when walking in). I also have two pictures attached at the bottom of this article if you can't make the visit.
If you’re interested in helping plan for the town’s Christmas season, be sure to reach out to Amber Belcher and/or Shannon Tilley, as they are working on making this season a magical one.
Don’t forget that if you want to decorate the poles around town, you’re more than welcome to do so. Let’s plant beautiful flowers all around our beautiful farming community for our wonderful visitors and of course, ourselves to enjoy.
Guns- if you want to shoot on your property, make sure to follow the Ohio Revised Code’s laws and regulations. You also need to get WRITTEN consent from the village counsel. That said this is for Target Practice, as for a reason I can't begin to explain during the hunting season you are more than okay to shoot any animal you want that's on your own property, just please make sure you're all being safe and following rules to keep yourselves out of any trouble. Also feel more than free to STOP calling the cops on your neighbors for shooting safely on their own properties. If they're not hurting you, stop wasting sheriff resources that could be used to actually help people. Thank you.
Scott Hughes placed a new bus sign the day after school started at Stauffer Rd. He also wants a new speed limit sign between Neff St and the Railroad on East St. due to the semis and other drivers. He also wants to put up a “Watch For Children” sign there. Villager Shirley Meade also recommended that if putting up a “Watch For Children” sign there, that one is also needed near Morral Methodist Church as the bus also stops for children along that area, no response was given to Mrs. Meade on her request.
Harry Miller plans to clean up and care for our small town cemetery owned by the Forry’s. Karen Hughes is supposed to go with him to fix it back up here soon if they haven’t already. For the dead in our area, we are very grateful for the respect to be shown to them and clean up their final bodily resting places.
There is also a request for respect to be shown in our village park. Please ladies, gentlemen, dogs, aliens, ghostly ghouls, the dwarves of the Blue Mountains, the Misty Mountains, of the Lonely Mountain; and to whomever else it may concern, don’t drive on the park grass. You are more than welcome to drive your vehicles on the stone lot, park in a space, and enjoy the park, but for the love of it all, please stay off the grass unless you’re walking it. Also please make sure to clean up after yourselves, mother earth doesn’t deserve to have her soils filled with our garbage. We have one earth, let’s respect it, keep it clean, and keep it healthy. Thank You.
Another request is to not bully your neighbors. Putting signs up about others properties, calling the cops for unnecessary reasons, trying to control people's properties, and more. Please again go touch some grass and as I tell my own children and was told growing up, mind your own! Thank you :)
Reminder that the next Village Monthly Meeting is Monday, October 13th, 2025, 6:30pm at the Firehouse. I hope to see you all there :)
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Thank You for reading. If they’re any updates I will post them, until then, I will likely see you next month. Keep Praying, and be Safe y’all!
~GF.
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***Below are the images of the information at the fire house as of Monday, September 8th 2025****
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***Below are the images of the Shreve Village (Wayne County, Ohio) Ordinance, That Mayor Marjorie Moyer Read As An Idea For The Village Of Morral, Rather Than An Outright Livestock Ban. Please Remember This Has Yet To Be Edited To Fit The Village Of Morral***
