Merger of Altenburg, Frohna appears to be in jeopardy

Plans to formalize consolidation of the Southeast Missouri towns of Altenburg and Frohna may be in jeopardy.

A petition signed by more than 175 Altenburg residents expressing a desire to keep the two towns as they are was presented to the Altenburg Board of Aldermen on Tuesday evening.

More than a decade ago, residents of Altenburg and Frohna voted to consolidate the towns to facilitate the sharing of utilities and other public services, among other things. But the formal renaming of the town was put off until late last year.

When elected officials solicited suggestions for what the new town ought to be named, they instead received staunch opposition.

Much of the disagreement stems from residents' feeling that changing the towns' name would disregard a long historical identity.

Altenburg resident and petition signatory Mike Hughey, who was present at the Tuesday meeting, said since the aldermen of Frohna and Altenburg decided any new name for the consolidated town would include neither "Altenburg" nor "Frohna," any name would be a disappointment.

"They said they're going to get rid of the original names. There's more than 150 years of history here," he said. "There's just a lot of people that like the history of our community and would rather not change it."

To be on the April ballot, the deconsolidation measure must be submitted to the county clerk by Jan. 27. Both Altenburg and Frohna must decide to deconsolidate, said Altenburg city attorney Thomas Hoeh.

"They both voted to consolidate, so any plans to deconsolidate would need both of their vote as well," he said.

While the petition doesn't mean the consolidation plans are officially off, it appears the debate has shifted. Last month, consolidation was presented as a done deal, and officials were adamant the community focus on moving forward as expeditiously as possible.

This month, the towns' names seem much less set in stone. Frohna's board of aldermen will meet this evening to discuss similar plans.

Altenburg Mayor Harold France thanked the residents in attendance for bringing the petition to their attention.

"Now we know how the people feel," he said. "We've got the petition back now, and 74 percent want to deconsolidate. We have to go with what the people want."

tgraef@semissourian.com