The Podcast is Almost Here, and the Games Continue

So, I’m back! So far, everyone I actually like is still talking to me, and I haven’t noticed any major changes in my life. So whatever that whole smear campaign was—where people were sharing news articles about my page in the comments like it was some kind of scandal—was honestly just embarrassing. Not for me, but for McGuffey. All it really did was prove that the people who don’t live here might have a point about how this place operates. Not exactly a great look, folks.

Also, the podcast is super close to being done! And I think I’ve finally managed to get some of the haters to take a much-needed step back—at least online. Let’s be real, though. They’re probably just running their mouths in person now because, let’s face it, it’s always easier to talk about someone when you know they’re not in the room to call you out. (Looking at you, people who mysteriously deleted their comments from my Facebook page. You do know the internet is forever, right? Deleting them doesn’t make them disappear.)

Anyway, big things are coming!

The first big thing is, of course, the podcast. I’d love for you all to tune in once I wrap up the final episodes. Next week, I’m diving into something really interesting—information from the state level. (And yeah, unlike the local government, the state has actually been pretty open with me. Wild, right?) Let’s just say some of the info I’ve come across is a chef’s kiss example of why record retention matters. Unfortunately, pointing out these issues doesn’t magically fix them—though that sure would make things easier.

Now, here’s where things get tricky. If these issues in McGuffey became very public, maybe that would push for change… but let’s be real, even that might not be enough. The best shot at actually solving some of these long-standing problems? Either we get leadership that’s willing to step up and learn—or we take a serious look at whether dissolving the village and shifting things to the township is the better move. And based on what I’ve seen so far, that second option might not be as crazy as it sounds.

Oh! Before I forget—some of the comments I got about the park project were so good that I turned them into inspirational T-shirts. (And before any of you eager critics start making fun of me—don’t worry, I spent exactly $0 because I used RedBubble.) Stay tuned for my Facebook page, where I’ll drop more details.

And speaking of interesting local happenings—someone with ties to the local government recently reached out to me with some eye-opening information. I’ll be sharing that soon, but not just yet—I want to make sure I can talk about it without revealing who they are. (Because, let’s be honest, in a small town, it doesn’t take much for people to start connecting the dots.)

Of course, I wouldn’t be surprised if, once this comes out, someone runs straight to the local news, insisting I made it up. That seems to be the go-to move when something doesn’t fit the usual narrative. But hey, that’s just part of the game, right?

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Debunking the Myths About McGuffey’s Dissolution

So, I want to take it down a notch now because there’s been a lot of talk about this new law that makes it easier for villages to dissolve. And judging by some of the reactions, you’d think we were about to be cast into the wasteland, fighting over the last bottle of water like it’s some kind of Mad Max reboot.

But let’s take a step back and actually look at what’s happening.

First off, if a municipality dissolves, services don’t just vanish. The Ohio Auditor’s Office steps in runs an audit and makes sure utilities keep running during the transition. After that, responsibility for things like the water plant moves to the township, county, or, if necessary, maybe even a private utility company. So, functionally, it’s kind of like when a company gets bought out—new management, but the lights stay on.

There’s no giant OFF switch. Nobody is coming to shut everything down overnight. That’s just not how infrastructure works.

Now, if I understand this correctly, the audit that determines whether a village meets the standards to stay incorporated—or whether it should go up for a vote—happens the same year as the national census. That means this isn’t happening tomorrow. We’ve got time before any real decisions are made.

And even then, McGuffey doesn’t just disappear overnight. The law doesn’t force a shutdown—it just makes it easier for voters to have a say. Instead of requiring people to organize a complicated petition, this law ensures that if a village isn’t meeting state standards, residents automatically get to vote on whether they want to keep things as they are or make a change. It’s up to the people who live here.

Now, if it does go to a vote and McGuffey dissolves, sure—things will change. Response times for certain services might be different, for better or worse. That’s something worth thinking about. But the idea that we’ll suddenly be left high and dry with no services, no water, and no plan? That’s not reality.

I actually reached out to the EPA, and they confirmed they don’t just shut off water plants. And let’s be honest—if our water system is in such bad shape that a transition would cause a major overhaul… maybe that’s something we should be talking about anyway.

So, before jumping to the worst-case scenario, here are a few things worth doing:

✅ Read up on how municipal dissolutions actually work.

✅ Talk to the township trustees—the ones I’ve spoken to have been pretty straightforward.

✅ Think critically before assuming the worst.

At the end of the day, freaking out over what could happen doesn’t make us more prepared—it just makes us more stressed.

I’ll be covering more on this soon because if a local government can’t follow state code, provide what its residents need, or handle different opinions without turning it into a mess, then in my opinion, it’s already failing the people it’s supposed to serve.

And hey—if you’re still convinced that McGuffey is heading for some kind of collapse, at least let me know ahead of time… so I can invest in a bottled water company before the panic buying starts.

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Final Thoughts

So there you have it—another week, another round of “what is even happening here?” Sometimes it’s so weird I wonder if we accidentally stepped into The Twilight Zone.

But don’t worry—no matter how strange things get, I’ll still be here asking the questions some people don’t want answered.

As always, I appreciate all of you who stick around, think critically, and refuse to accept nonsense as fact.

Remember: The podcast is coming soon. The village park is still taking longer to build than the Empire State Building. And the truth? Well… that always has a way of coming out.

So stay tuned, stay sharp, and if you hear any more wild rumors—send them my way. Because, at this point, some of the things that happen here are so ridiculous they could be turned into a comedy special. Disclaimer:

The content of this blog reflects my personal opinions, observations, and interpretations of publicly available information. While I strive for accuracy, all claims should be fact-checked independently. Any references to individuals, emails, or government actions are based on my understanding of events and should not be taken as absolute facts. Additionally, any information provided by anonymous sources should be viewed as informational, not verified proof.

As always, critical thinking is encouraged—do your own research, draw your own conclusions, and don’t just take my word for it.