The Village of Dexter is on track to possibly become a city. For a 45-day period that ends Aug. 27, signatures of 5 percent of Dexter's registered voters need to be collected for a referendum. Once filed, cityhood incorporation would be put on a ballot as early as November, when Dexter residents would vote yes or no on becoming a city.

Jim Smith, a trustee on the Dexter Village Council, is among the residents of Dexter now circulating petitions requesting a referendum on the issue of cityhood.

"At this point in time our position is to be neutral," said Smith, who said he is not representing the Council in his effort to garner signatures. "If we can get a referendum, then there will be plenty of time to discuss the pros and cons of becoming a city."

If a referendum is not filed, voters will be asked to elect nine members for a charter commission, who would write a governing document for the city of Dexter. After the charter is drafted, it would go to the governor's office, and if it complied with state law, Dexter residents would vote on whether to accept the charter. If the charter is approved, Dexter would become a city.

The population of Dexter is just more than 4,000. Signatures from 137 residents are needed for a referendum. Smith said everyone he's spoken with so far supports the referendum, even though opinions on cityhood run the gamut including those who have been closely following the issue and those who know little about it.

"It just comes down to the basic rights of the citizens to be allowed to vote on this," said Smith.

If a referendum is filed, it will be up to the State Boundary Commission along with the clerks of the two townships in which Dexter is located (Scio and Webster) to determine when it will be on a ballot.

The 45-day referendum period began following the state director of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs approval of the Boundary Commission's recommendations.

"The boundary agreed upon by Webster Township and Dexter includes just a small piece of the Historical Society property but doesn't include Gordon Hall (in Webster Township) Mill Creek Sporting Goods (in Scio Township,)" said Courtney Nicholls, assistant village manager.

According to a City Study Committee report posted on the Village's website, the pros of becoming a city include not paying township taxes, centralized government with elections and tax payments, and more recognition from a state and county level. The cons listed include no representation at the townships, fear of losing the small town feel of the village, and the added responsibilities of a city such as running elections and doing its own assessing.