City Beat: Public to decide southwest annexation

Voters will decide if more than 1,000 acres of land adjacent to Springfield's southwest city limits should be annexed into the city. City Council voted unanimously Aug. 26 to put the annexations on the Nov. 5 ballot.

There are three tracts of Greene County land in question.

Area A: The largest tract, almost 800 acres, is located west of Golden Avenue along the James River Freeway. It is home to 3,241 residents and is almost 30 percent contiguous to city limits.

Area B: Nearly 10 acres of commercial land make up the second proposed area. It is located on West Republic Road near the Scenic Avenue intersection and is 45.5 percent contiguous to the city.

Area C: The final piece of land is 265 acres along South Campbell Avenue from the James River Freeway to Steinert Road. It is the largest contiguous space at 64.8 percent.

Springfield residents and homeowners within the proposed annexation areas will be able to vote on the issue.

"In reality, we're one community," Mayor Tom Carlson told council before the vote. "The people that live out here should have a right to decide at the polls."

City Council heard mixed reviews of the proposal at an Aug. 19 public hearing. Much concern surrounded additional fees to city residents, but city officials showed numbers disputing the increases.

According to city officials, a $100,000 home in the city pays $65 more in taxes than in the county, but the new city residents would pay $91 less a year in utilities due to surcharge waivers the city would issue for a savings of $26 a year in taxes and utilities.

If passed in November the annexation would go into effect July 1, 2003. But city services like street maintenance and repair, snow removal, and care of rights of way and waterways would be provided immediately, city officials said.

Eastwood Hills

Council is considering repealing a 6-year-old ordinance that prohibits the city from installing a sanitary sewer system in Springfield's Eastwood Hills subdivision. Approximately 25 Eastwood Hills residents attended the meeting to fight the proposed sewer system. Homes in the subdivision, located northeast of East Sunshine Street and Highway 65, operate on septic tanks.

The ordinance set forth by City Council in 1996 says sanitary sewers may be constructed if a majority of owners request the sewer system or if there was a health risk from faulty septic tanks.

Homeowner James Whitlaw said neither is occurring.

Whitlaw and others thought the past ordinance gave them assurance the city would not come back to the issue.

"You have not been honest with us," Rebecca Ziegenhorn told council.

One resident who approached council, Patrick Roberts, is in favor of the sewer system. "It's time for City Council to bring Eastwood Hills kicking and screaming into the 20th century," Roberts said.

Mike Dobbs is not a resident of Eastwood Hills, but he opposes the proposed sewer system because construction of the sewer lines would prohibit him access to his home for a couple of weeks, city officials have told him.

Dobbs operates a residential development business out of his home.

"I think people need to be aware of all the facts before a decision is made," he said.

Homeowners would have to pay $5,800 for the conversion from septic tanks to city sewer, plus an additional connection fee.

A vote will be taken at the next council meeting Sept. 23.

Mediacom franchise

Springfield's cable provider, Mediacom, was granted an extension for working out some complications in the provider's franchise agreement with the city.

City officials cite poor customer service from Mediacom and the company's refusal to pay its $100,000 annual franchise fee as snags in the agreement.

A public hearing will be held Sept. 23.