By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorAn advocacy group is continuing to fight the closure of the Emmaus Homes campus in Marthasville.The group, Advocates for Emmaus, has launched a petition drive and plans to ask the Emmaus Board of Directors to repeal and rescind its decision to close the campus.In May, the Emmaus board voted to close the campus and relocate residents by 2020.Emmaus Homes provides 24-hour residential and other services to 77 adults with developmental disabilities on its 650-acre campus located off Highway D. The Marthasville campus has been open for 120 years.AFE members said the board’s decision was not made in the best interests of the residents who live there or for Emmaus Homes, a private, nonprofit and faith-based organization.“We’re just trying to make a statement,” said Lynne Unnerstall, a member of the group who has a son residing on the campus. “We’re hoping to show the board that there is support out there. They say it’s a financial issue, but we can make it work.”Petitions are circulating throughout Warren and Franklin counties, including at area churches and businesses. An online petition can also be signed at saveemmaus.com.As of Friday, over 1,100 signatures had been collected, according to the website.At some point the petition will be presented to the Emmaus board.“I am cautiously optimistic we will work things out,” Unnerstall said.Under the proposed closure plan, residents who live there will be moved to group homes in nearby communities.Emmaus officials cited three reasons for discontinuing services in Marthasville: best practice, financial stability and good stewardship. Executives said in May the Marthasville campus faces an annual $400,000 funding deficit. The shortfall is expected to grow to $600,000 in five to 10 years.The board’s decision was reached despite pleas from AFE members and other supporters who asked that the closure be delayed until other alternatives could be identified. Unnerstall said the advocacy group, comprised of parents, guardians and other supporters, is looking at a number of options, including the possibility of finding investors to build homes on the campus property.But first, they are attempting to contact parents and guardians to determine how many prefer to keep their family members on the campus as opposed to moving elsewhere.“We’re afraid people will be pushed to this before they know what is going on,” Unnerstall said. “The decision does not have to be made today. You can wait for six months to see what happens.”The group fighting the closure fear the residents, many who have lived there for decades, will struggle with adjusting to a new residential setting. They also believe additional clients would consider living on the campus if more was done to promote the rural setting.The Emmaus board’s decision to proceed with closing the Marthasville campus is similar to what occurred in St. Charles. The 88-acre property was recently closed and residents who had been living there were moved into homes in the area. That property is now under contract and slated for residential development. Emmaus’ administration offices have relocated to a new facility in St. Charles.Emmaus Homes