Iowa Town of Swan Votes to Dissolve After Nearly Two Centuries

The small southern Iowa town of Swan is preparing to shut down after existing for nearly two centuries. The town, founded in the 1840s, saw its city council vote this week to officially dissolve the municipality.

“It’s definitely emotional,” said Mayor Stacey Harding. “There were emotions were high, especially right after the vote last night.”

Mayor Harding, who has lived in Swan for most of her life, says the decision was painful but necessary. With only 68 residents and an annual budget of just $74,000, the administrative burden of running a town had become too much.

“When you think about what it takes to run a local government,” Harding said, “you have almost as much paperwork for a town of 10,000 as you do for a town of 68.”

The tipping point came this winter when Swan was hit with a lawsuit filed by local resident Keegan Jarvis, who says he was unfairly targeted for violating a city ordinance related to property conditions.

“It’s very sad,” Jarvis said, adding, “The other people feel that they’re just dissolving the town to walk away from a lawsuit. However, I have to agree with the council—there hasn’t been much desire for participation.”

The town’s leaders say the cost of defending against the lawsuit would break their already-strained budget.

Bill Gobbel, another Swan resident, echoed the sentiment that it may be time to let go. “I hate to see it go away, but I understand why. I really do. It’s just becoming impossible to keep it going the way it is.”

Unless residents call for a public vote on the issue, the town will officially dissolve, and governance of the area will transfer to Marion County.

This story was reported by Todd Magel for CNN Newsource.

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