MOUNT VERNON — After considering possible implications of voting no, Mount Vernon City Council members voted 4 to 1 to annex and provide services to a parcel in Pleasant Township. The .056-acre parcel is on Martinsburg Road.
Under a Type 2 annexation, the city has 20 days to provide a list of services it will extend to the parcel. The city has 25 days to approve or reject the annexation request.
Because the city missed the 25-day deadline, Law Director Rob Broeren said council has essentially consented to annexation.
Even though it missed the 20-day deadline, council still had to decide on Monday what services the city will provide to the parcel. The ordinance states the city will provide police, fire, EMS, and stormwater services.
Discussion included the fact that annexation and providing services opens up possible development of the 105 acres behind and contiguous to the 0.56-acre parcel.
“What we really think it’s about is, if they can get that half acre annexed, that opens the gate to annex that other 100 acres,” Pleasant Township Trustee Jim Hughes said. “If a developer is planning to put 70 or 100 homes in there, you know what that’s going to do to the traffic situation on that section of Martinsburg Road. It’s very serious.
“The traffic that will increase on that section of 586 is going to be substantial.”
Law Director Rob Broeren said the city’s decision not to provide water and sewer will affect the property owner’s decision on what he does next. What the effect will be Broeren did not know.
Representing the property owner, Zachary DiMarco of Critchfield Critchfield & Johnston noted the city already provides fire and EMS to the parcel through its agreement with Pleasant Township.
“We’re adding one more home for police. So, to me, this isn’t enlarging anything that the city is already doing,” he said. “And this is the petition that is in front of you. You may see another ordinance for 100 acres, but that’s not what is in front of us today.”
Councilman Mike Hillier proposed amending the ordinance to remove the list of services.
Councilman Mel Severns said he did not see a reason to delete the services since the city was already providing those services to residents on the west side of Martinsburg Road. Council member Tammy Woods did not support the amendment because she feared it might set up the city for further problems since the city missed the deadlines to act on the annexation.
The amendment failed by a 4 to 1 vote. Council members ultimately approved providing the four services listed: police, fire, EMS, and storm water.
