06-07-71 Council Annexation Committee Meeting Minutes

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ANNEXATION COMMITTEE MEETING Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, met in Annexation Committee Session in the County -City Building in the Council Chambers on June 7, 1971, at 7 :40 P. is Council President Laven opened the meeting stating that this/ a Public Hearing on annexations. He introduced the council members, City Clerk, her deputies and Mr. Lloyd Taylor, Sanitation Engineer, who was to make the presentation on the annexations. Mr. Taylor was asked to go into the theory of annexation and how it relates to the total growth of the city. Council President'Laven stated the first annexation to be heard was generally described as lying north of Edison Rd. & West of IR rs„ Mr. Taylor stated that annexation is a highly emotional thing and that very few people can log'--Lan cally discuss it; that many feel it is a conspiracy against them and that it is a power grab. The City has many problems to solve, the greatest being the solution of its tax base structure. Two very important departments are the police and fire organizations that comprise the largest share of the budget paid from the general tax levy. In order to attract industries into the City, municipal services must be present. We must structure them for some future massive plan and the cost of these services should be shared by everyone who uses them. The central core of the City is filled with lower income families who can take advantage of city conveniences offered while the higher income families can afford to pay for the conveniences so they move to the suburbs. Reference was made by Mr. Taylor to the laws of annexation in Burns Indiana Statutes No. 48 -717, Annexation of Lands by Separate Ordinance Not Defining Corporate Boundaries and No. 48 -722, Hear- ing On Appeal. On a recent Judgment, The Appellate Court upheld annexation of a tract of land under remonstrance. Mr. Russell Jacoby, 18209 E. Edison Rd., South Bend, spokesman for the majority of the audience, berated the quality of the water he had to purchase from the City and gave the Councilmen a sampl of rusty city water. He said their firemen were very good and felt they ha4aR9 need for city fire men. He ended his remarks with a very emphatic statement that they do.not /to be annexed to the City whereupon the audience applauded. Mrs. Ann Johnson, 1335 Sunnymede St., South Bend,said she is living temporarily in South Bend and maintains a permanent home on Harrington Drive. She ex- pressed her discontent with the rusty city water, praised the township firemen and felt no need for city firemen and further police protection, but did need it in the City. She expressed con- cern of the possible destruction of the natural wooded surroundings if annexed. Mr. Taylor ex- plained that the City gets their water supply from exactly the same place the citizens do; the supply being in a 100 -ft strata; that the city is required to chlorinate it and the individual does not. Water must be supplied to the firemen; when it remains in the mains too long, the iron has a tendency to precipitate out. He advised that people could continue to use their present facilities but when they needed replacement, they would have to connect to the City. Mr. Jacoby requested a continuance on this annexation. Various questions were answered by the Councilmen. Council President Laven entertained a motion to terminate the hearing at this point for a short recess. Councilman Allen so moved, seconded by Councilman Reenke. Motion carried. Time: 9:18 PM ANNEXATION COMMITTEE MEETING - RECONVENED Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, reconvened in the Council Chambers at 9:25 P. M. Council President Laven requested that hearings be continued; the next one would be the one generally described as being bounded by Liberty Highway (Ind. #23), Sout 01ive --- Stx-p—et,_ West Ewing Avenue and Street. Mr. Lloyd Taylor, City Engineer, gave some pertinent statistics: 18 acres, 36 residential units, 2 commercial uses, population 115, .73 miles of streets, estimated tax revenue $5,244.87. Esti- mated cost for police, street & traffic, street lighting, sanitation, park, sewer and governmental overhead would be $7,851. Council President Laven inquired if anyone would like to speak on this ordinance. Councilman_ Red why we were considering this annexation when the expenses were greater than the revenue. Mr. Taylor replied it was mostly for an orderly annexation, possible future expansion and the trailer court might need sewers. Couneil President Laven noted that there was no one present to speak on the ordinance. Council President Laven stated the third hearing was the annexation generally described as Ken- sington Farms Subdivision, Section 3, Part.2,and Other Lands. Mr. Taylor gave the following sta- tistics: 29.4 acres, 37 residential units, 120 population, .78 miles of streets, anticipated tax revenue $19,223. Estimated total cost summary for police, street & traffic, street lights, sani- tation, parks and governmental overhead $7,700. Robert Zimmerman, attorney for the residents of the area, wished to clarify a point made earlier by Mr. Taylor that.although the Appellate Court had upheld a previous adjoining annexation, the case is now in the Supreme Court and they had not received the final word as yet. He referred to Ordinance No. 5011 -68 adopted after considerable discussion in 1968 containing the provision that for a period of 3 years after annexation, one half of all municipal property taxes to be imposed be put in a special fund solely for the bene- fit of such annexed territory. Mr. Zimmerman requested that a similar provision be incorporated for this annexation. Council President Laven said the fourth hearing was on an area generally known as Greenbrook Es- tates Mobile Home Park on Mayflower Rd. Mr. Taylor gave the following statistics: 88 acres, 100 mobile homes at present time, 232 future, 8.7 acres zoned commercial use, present population 250, future 580, present anticipated revenue $10,404, future $34,406. Estimated total cost summary for police, street lights, parks and governmental overhead $7,700 present, $17,138uture. He sai, the owners had agreed not to remonstrate against annexation when they had petitions or water and sewers. Councilman Reinke made a motion that a r _.be__.made to the Council at the June 14 regular meeting, seconded by Councilman Craven. Motion carried. Council President Laven entertained a motion for adjournment, Councilman Allen so moved, seconded by Councilman Reinke. Motion carried. Time: 10:10 P. M. ATTEST: APPROVED: PRESIDENT