Annexation

TO THE EDITOR:

The residents of the community of Leggett Drive and Pine Ridge Circle along with six other areas around Texarkana, Texas are being forcibly annexed into the city limits on August 13, 2018, if the City Council approves the proposed annexation.

The City Council called two open hearings. Accommodations at both events were overflowing with people opposed to annexation. No one was in favor of the proposed change. The pleas were from the retired on fixed incomes, people with disabilities and others with families to support. Both meetings lasted over two and a half hours each with passionate pleas against annexation.

The concerns voiced were that we have no representation or voting rights in this matter. It appears the city is trying to approve the annexation before the state legislators have the opportunity to amend the law requiring voting on such issues in the next session.

Some of the regulations and or restrictions the city would impose are as followed:

Mandatory use of city services even though current septic tanks and wells are in order and well maintained

Added personal expense of running lines to connect to city water and sewer

Increased cost of living due to increased taxes

Imposing restrictions on family owned businesses which would adversely affect them

Imposed restriction on open burning

City fee of $1,000.00 per fire for approval from the fire department for an open burn permit

Having to place yard debris in a 1 cubic yard container regardless how much property you own

So why does the city want to annex our properties? The Texas Municipal League states the following: Most cities annex for two basic reasons: (1) to control development; and/ or (2) to expand the city’s tax base. Each city should carefully consider the pros and cons of annexation, and also have an understanding of whether it is necessary, prior to annexing. There are numerous city officials and planning and law firms in Texas with expertise in this area, and cities should take advantage of their expertise.

In conclusion “we the people” of the affected annexation properties do not want to be annexed by the city until certain changes could be made before the city uses it’s power to ignore the rights of the people affected by these proposed changes.

Lynn Kuznoff Texarkana, Texas