Springfield looks to annex land near airport

Council on July 13 began the process of annexing 5,085 acres west of the city and north of Interstate 44, in an effort to prevent neighboring Willard from annexing the same property.

The struggle between the two cities, according to Springfield officials, dates back to an April 2004 agreement where the two set boundaries for their respective sewer service areas. Willard agreed not to provide sewer capacity outside of its boundary except in an area west of its city limits.

But Willard recently annexed an area outside of its boundary as part of its proposed purchase of the Meadows Water Co. water and sewer systems. That annexation covers property within the state-defined “airport zone” for the Springfield-Branson National Airport, and state law only allows the city that owns the airport to annex land within an airport zone.

Springfield, according to a news release, is concerned that the long-term road system for the airport would be jeopardized if road access to the airport falls within another city’s boundaries.

The approval of intent to annex the property gives the city of Springfield two years to proceed; a public hearing on the issue is set for Oct. 29.