FROM STAFF REPORTS
ANNETTA – Annetta Mayor Bruce Pinckard is making another attempt to raise discussion on an annexation petition.
A petition with signatures from more than 500 Parker County residents seeking inclusion into the Town of Annetta has to date been dismissed by most of the town’s council members, who have declined to discuss the request or schedule public hearings.
Pinckard has called a special session for 7 p.m. Thursday at Annetta City Hall with the lone agenda item calling for a resolution to set public hearing dates on the annexation request by the Deer Creek Water Works customers. The system is owned by the Town of Annetta.
“This is most obviously an issue of good government,” Pinckard wrote in a letter addressing his call for Thursday’s special session. “Much information exists and needs to be discussed in order to make a thoughtful, informed and transparent decision whether to move forward with the public hearings and give both citizens and petitioners the right to be heard. The issue may also affect the town’s finances, health, security and comfort. It is a reasonable issue to be heard for all the above reasons.”
Last week, a motion by council member Chuck Sheridan to begin public discussion on the issue failed for lack of a second. The Annetta South council last month voted unanimously to release a portion of land within their ETJ so all Deer Creek residents could seek annexation by Annetta.
Deer Creek residents say they approve of the job Annetta has done in managing the system but want annexation so that they can be part of future decisions concerning the water and sewer system, as well as long-term development in the growing southeast area of the county.
Opponents of annexation have voiced concerns over adding more roads the city can’t afford to maintain. The annexation request could double to the town’s population. Annetta does not assess a property tax.
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