City debates smaller annexation plan
Sandy Corner, Sunset Terrace residences still targeted in $5 million discussions
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

L-N Photo byShannon Crabtree Expressing Concerns Sunset Terrace resident John Huddleston, left, spoke against annexation of his area again Monday night as Council debated a revised plan. Amon g the audience members were David Allgayer, center, who is considering participation in an industrial agreement for D-A-M Road and Jimmy Roppolo, right, a Sandy Corner area resident opposed to annexation who also expressed concern over the possible annexation of Farmers Coop of El Campo's fertilizer plant. Roppolo is the FCEC general manager.

The considerably reduced annexation plan El Campo City Council discussed during Monday night deliberations dropped large sections of agricultural land, but held fast to residential areas.

Before a packed audience in the small 315 E. Jackson Council chambers, city leaders reviewed new financial estimates which placed the cost of annexation at slightly more than $5 million to take in some Sandy Corner and Sunset Terrace residents as well as right of way on the east side of Hwy. 71 north and a corridor along U.S. 59 near South Meadow Lane.

Whether Council follows that proposal or opts for something entirely different could be decided Tuesday, Nov. 24, with a formal ordinance adoption Dec. 11. Whatever areas are annexed, if any, would officially become part of the city limits Jan. 1 and be subject to taxation and ordinances.

During two public hearings earlier this month, few of the almost 50 addressing Council spoke in support of annexa- tion.

Tuesday night residents of the Sandy Corner area and Sunset Terrace held firm in their opposition with Council finding just one supporter who looked forward to water, sewer, mosquito spraying and the end of trash burning.

Sunset Terrace The daily burning of trash in the Sunset Terrace area, Willie Bender told Council, put new middle school students in the path of smoke - a statement which drew the brief jeers of his neighbors.

To annex just Sunset residents - the large undeveloped portion of that proposed tract as opted to pursue an agricultural exemption - the city would spend an estimated $445,453.50.

"I'd not like to see us spend that amount of money to go out and take that small amount of homes," Councilman Robert Boone said.

Mayor Phillip Spenrath said it would be a strong point to consider.

"This is a lot tougher one for me," he said. "I heard a lot of great things in the public hearing (in opposition).

With the current home values and estimated utility bill income, City Manager John Steelman estimated it would take 15 years for the line extensions to pay for themselves.

"But remember the city is here in perpetuity," he said.

Residents on fixed incomes in Sunset Terrace were a concern, Councilman Ed Erwin said.

Sooner or later Sunset Terrace will become part of the city limits, Councilwoman Gloria Harris said, adding the question would be whether to continue now or two to three years from now when costs are higher.

Sandy Corner

Proposed annexations along Hwy. 71 north would cost almost $3.8 million Council learned Monday - if the plan is scaled back along the east side and business owners along DA M Road accept an industrial agreement.

An industrial agreement, a plan the city of Wharton has approved to allow Navasota Energy to remain outside their city limits, creates a tax in lieu of annexation.

If approved by the El Campo City Council, the D-A-M Road proposal would allow businesses along that roadway to pay a portion of taxes to stay outside the city limits. They would not receive water or sewer services - nor would they be subject to city ordinances.

Running city water and sewer lines down D-A-M Road would add between $500,000 and $1 million to the annexation package cost.

On the east side of Hwy. 71, annexation would, under the proposal Monday, be limited to right of way - about 300 feet taking into consideration buildings.

"We don't want another area like McCoy's (Hwy. 71 South) where we take in half a building," Councilman Kenneth Martin said.

Residential annexation plans in the area remained the same.

The concern there was for the effect on city voting precincts in the upcoming May election cycle.

Other areas

Due to large areas of agricultural land, Council considered a new U.S. 59 east annexation plan which only extended to include Wharton County Electric Coop at an estimated cost of $184,490.

Extending beyond WCEC, Council learned, would require a new sewer lift station.

All land south of the new middle school (Area 4) is agricultural and therefore can opt for an exemption.

Area 6 annexation plans are estimated now at $635,980.

This is for "1,000 feet west of the existing city limits line from AEP Service Center to (Jackson Street) along the West Loop; 1,000 feet west of the existing city limits line from (Jackson Street) to (U.S. 59); 1,000 feet north of the Southern right of way of (U.S. 59) from the existing city limits point 300 feet west of South Meadow Lane projection was approximately to the existing railroad right of way."

Ag exemptions

Agricultural land qualifying for exemption can opt out of annexation with a 15-year non-development agreement. And, as long as the property use doesn't change, the areas would remain outside the city limits and taxation jurisdictions.

Development, however, would subject that land to annexation and city restrictions on zoning.

Costs

Estimates presented to Council Monday should be good for about six months, Spenrath told Council.

With about $865,000 in the Utility Fund Balance, the city would be looking at an estimated $4 million in utility bonds to pay for line extensions, Steelman said.

That would mean between $5.66 to $7.10 a month added to all municipal utility accounts for the next 20 years.

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.