Lewiston
passes annexation plan
By Beth Huffaker
December 2, 2004 | LEWISTON -- Only
five Lewiston residents, two being City Council members,
came to the public hearing meeting Tuesday night to
voice concerns about the town's proposed annexation
plan.
Lewiston has no intention of annexing any land but
is required by law to have a plan in writing, said Councilwoman
Cindi Johnson, who also sits on the Planning and Zoning
committee
Bruce Kareen, the Planning and Zoning chairman read
the annexation plan that proposes annexing north to
the Idaho border, east to the forest boundary, south
to Gilde Edge Rd. and west to the Bear River.
Marlow Adkins of the Richmond Planning and Zoning
committee was there to represent his town. One of the
areas of the Lewiston annexation plan overlaps with
what Richmond will annex in their plan said Adkins.
"But nobody should get upset about it. We're really
just dancing a dance here because the Legislature said
we had to two years ago," Adkins said about the state
mandate for every town to have an annexation plan.
The Lewiston plan also involves all the conditions
under which an annexed part of land will be incorporated
into the town and all the municipal support the area
will qualify for such as fire protection, garbage collection
and snow removal, to name a few. The area annexed will
experience higher property taxes for the services provided
by the city.
The only public concern voiced was that of Councilman
Darwin Pitcher. "I think the only concern I have is
the overlap area with Richmond plan but it just depends
on where people want to be annexed to and where they
want to be," he said.
"Really we're crystal ball gazing. It will be years
before this is a serious option and we are suppose to
know now what to do," said Adkins
The plan passed unanimously.
"There is no guarantee that this plan will even be
approved," Kareen said.
The plan still has to go to the City Council for public
meeting and then for a public hearing if the council
decides to pass the proposed annexation plan, said Johnson.
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