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Huntsville growth boundary issue goes to state
By BEN GARRETT
Independent Herald Editor
August 31, 2006
HUNTSVILLE — The Board of Mayor and Aldermen here will continue to pursue its attempt to establish an urban growth boundary.
During a short regular session Monday evening, the board approved a motion by Vice Mayor Mark Love to authorize attorney Andrew Tillman to represent the town in any matters related to the proposed urban growth boundary.
Prior to the start of Monday’s meeting, Mayor George Potter said that the town will send the urban growth boundary proposal to the state for a final decision.
The board had approved an urban growth boundary to extend 2,500 feet in all directions beyond the town’s current corporate limits. Under state law, an urban growth boundary is a 20-year plan for potential municipal growth. Under the law, the town may annex by ordinance any property that falls within the urban growth boundary. An ordinance requires a public hearing and two votes of approval by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Any property falling outside the urban growth boundary must be annexed by referendum, which represents a much more expensive and time-consuming process for municipalities.
State law requires that any amendment to an urban growth boundary be approved by the other municipalities within the county and by the county’s legislative body. Earlier this summer, the Towns of Oneida and Winfield approved Huntsville’s proposed urban growth boundary, but Scott County Commission rejected it.
The law provides for Huntsville to either amend the boundary and resubmit it for possible approval by the county’s legislative body, or submit it for possible decision by a three-judge panel at the state level.
Potter said Monday that the town has opted for the latter, and reiterated an earlier assurance that the town does not plan to conduct a wholesale annex of properties that fall within the growth boundary.
“People have said that the urban growth boundary is annexation,” Potter said. “It is not annexation, it never has been annexation and it never will be annexation. This board has to approve an annexation. We have not annexed anybody who didn’t want to be annexed since this board has been in session. That’s our motto.
“The worst thing you can have is a town full of people who don’t want to be there,” Potter added. “So we’re not going to annex anybody that doesn’t want to be here.”
In other business Monday, the board voted to authorize the mayor to insulate the town’s newly-remodeled fire hall before cold weather sets in this winter. Mayor Potter stated that the town had received an estimated cost of $1,322 from Junior Terry Insulation.
The board also approved the first reading of a budget amendment ordinance for Fiscal Year 2005-2006.
Prior to the consideration of Monday’s business before the board, Potter stated that garbage pickup next week will take place on Tuesday instead of Monday, due to the Labor Day holiday. Also, City Recorder Wendy Buttram encouraged residents of the town who are age 65 or older and have an income of less than $20,000 per year, or residents who are permanently disabled under Social Security definition, to contact the town’s municipal offices (663-3471) about property tax relief that is available through a state-funded program.
news@ihoneida.com
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