Property owners in a 65-acre tract that has been called Annexation Area 7 objected to being added into Grand Island city limits because they said it would negatively impact their rural way of life.
The land is located south of Midaro Drive, north of U.S. Highway 34 and on the east side of South Locust Street. It includes the former Vanosdall softball field complex.
Their land would also eventually cease to be part of the Northwest School District, which has a more rural focus. Two of their children want to be farmers, and a third wants to be a veterinarian, Laub said.
If their land were to be annexed, "our whole way of life changes," she told the commission, referring to
Laub's mother-in-law, Evie, said the annexation would also separate the farm homestead from the farmground, which runs to the east to Stuhr Road.
Commissioner John Amick of Doniphan concurred. He moved to annex just the western half of the proposed area, which includes the former ball fields and the Heidi Aken house that fronts onto Highway 34. Aken had previously spoken in favor of annexation.
Amick said water and sewer is available to the western portion of Area 7, but not to the Laub farmsteads on the east. The entire 65 acres is also not surrounded completely by city limits and the annexation, as originally proposed by the city, would substantially change the rural lifestyle the Laubs have, he said.
The commission passed the smaller version of Area 7 on a 9-0 vote.
But other farmgrounds that were completely surrounded by city limits --in Areas 13 and 14 -- were recommended for annexation.
Commissioner Les Ruge said because Grand Island has grown up around those areas, there is confusion on whether city or county forces have jurisdiction when it comes to road issues, drainage and emergency response. Annexation will clarify that.
Landowners Ray Stander, 1104 N. North Road, and Floyd Leiser, 3550 N. Engleman Road, both objected, saying the land is being used for agricultural purposes.
"Farmground is not necessary for city use," Leiser said. "They're not going to develop it as long as I'm alive," he added emphatically.
Northwest school Superintendent Bill Mowinkel also objected to the annexation of ag land from Areas 12, 13, 14 and the Laub ground in Area 7. He said the annexation results in a loss of tax base and property tax revenue for the Northwest School District.
Planning Commission Chairman Pat O'Neill said the commission is charged with evaluating current and future land use, not school finance.
The votes on the other areas were as follows:
-- Area 3a: This has 210 acres located south of Airport Road/U.S. Highway 281 and on the west side of Broadwell Avenue north of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks. City sewer and water is available. It includes the Veterans Athletic Field Complex and Eagle Scout Park and is mostly city-owned so there is no property valuation and no property tax revenue. City annexation would clarify that city police have jurisdiction at the Athletic Complex, which is on ground leased by the city from the state. Planning commission voted 9-0 in favor.
-- Area 6: This has 50 acres located north of Bismark Road to the east side of Stuhr Road. City sewer and water is available. Estimated tax base is $100,053. Estimated annual property tax for all political subdivisions is $2,181. Planning commission voted 9-0 in favor.
-- Area 12: This is about 200 acres of farmland located north of Husker Highway and to the west side of U.S. Highway 281 and Prairieview Street. City sewer and water is available. Estimated tax base is $481,334 and estimated property tax revenue is $10,495 a year. Planning commission voted 8-1 in favor. Commissioner Les Ruge objected.
-- Area 13: This is about 120 acres of farmland south of Old Potash Highway on the west side of North Road. City sewer and water is available. Estimated tax base is $250,871 with estimated property tax revenue of $5,470 a year. Planning commission voted 7-2 in favor. Commissioners Bill Hayes and Deb Reynolds objected.
-- Area 14: This is about 100 acres of farmland south of 13th street and west of Sagewood Avenue. City sewer and water is available. Estimated tax base is $687,081 with estimated property tax revenue of $14,981 a year. Planning commission voted 7-2 in favor. Commissioners Bill Hayes and Deb Reynolds objected.
The commission's recommendation will now advance to the Grand Island City Council, which had directed the commission to evaluate the annexation areas. The city council could consider the annexation recommendation as early as July 26 and vote on an intent to annex the land. The city council must then set a public hearing on that intent and take public testimony before any formal annexation vote would take place.
If the city decides to annex the land, it will require approval votes at three separate council meetings and formal publication of the annexation. That means the earliest that the annexation could be approved is September, with the annexation going into effect in October, said Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity.
The city council also directed the Regional Planning Commission to consider two other possible areas of annexation -- the Rainbow Lakes Subdivision and the Meadowlark Estates Subdivision, both located south of U.S. Highway 34 and east and west of Blaine Street. Nabity said formal annexation plans on those two areas are not yet complete, but could come before the commission in early August.
Source: http://theindependent.com/articles/2011/07/18/news/local/13598983.txt
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