Annexation debate starts Monday
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

With five areas targeted for annexation and public hearings on the issue complete, El Campo City Council members will begin their deliberations on which properties should become part of the municipality Monday.

The called meeting will be 7 p.m. Monday in chambers, 315 E. Jackson. The meeting is open to the public with time designated for citizen comments.

With speakers in public hearings united in their opposition to annexation (please see related story), Council will have to decide whether they should proceed anyway or if some areas should be dropped.

Councilwoman Gloria Harris warned members last month public hearings could have a significant impact on their deliberations.

"If at that public meeting there is a big outcry, y'all are going to back off," Harris said during the Oct. 9 session, adding, "If they don't want to be annexed, we've got big headaches."

The five proposed annexation sites the city is considering are:

• Area 1: Along Hwy. 71 North bounded by Sandy Corner Road to the west and Wilbur Road to the north while the eastern boundary would be 500 feet east of Hwy. 71 or the depth of the individual pieces of property.

• Area 3: The 60-acre Sunset Terrace tract off FM 2765 just north of the new middle school site.

• Area 4: A tract south of FM 2765 bounded north by FM 2765, east by Ellwood Street and south by Doris Street.

• Area 5: A 1,000-plus foot wide strip from along East Jackson Street running east to U.S. 59 to a quarter mile east of the first El Campo exit.

• Area 6: An L-shaped tract both north and south of Jackson Street from South Meadow Lane toward the Rice Belt bridge.

Ultimately City Council can opt to annex any or all of these five areas or a portion of one or more of the tracts.

No decisions have been made at this point.

Council is expected to deliberate on the issue Monday and again at its Nov. 27 regular meeting before an anticipated vote Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Expanding the city limits could cost $5.5 million which could mean between $4 and $8 per month additional to each utility customer depending on several factors, including a tax hike, increased costs or the use of utility fund balance dollars.

For the potential incoming resident or business, the bill could potentially run several thousand dollars when new lines are run and septic tanks abated.

If areas are annexed, taxes would be due starting in January. It would be two to three years before water and sewer taps would be available.

All city ordinances will become effective immediately including restrictions against outdoor burning.