Reverse Annexation Measure OK'd

September 22, 2005

A portion of 1,468 acre tract in Bear Creek which was annexed into the Town of Oneida several years ago has been approved for “de-annexation” on first reading of an ordinance approved by Oneida’s Mayor and Board of Aldermen Thursday night.

The board acted on the recommendation of Mayor Jack E. Lay in voting to remove the property from the corporate limits of Oneida due primarily to its inaccessibility to city services such as police and fire protection as well garbage collection service.

Mayor Lay said that the request for de-annexation had come from property owners Johnny and Dorothy King and is on the back side, or Winfield side, of the huge tract on which a racetrack and landfill are situated.

The mayor informed the board that in order to provide city services to the homes located on that property, police, fire department and sanitation vehicles would have to travel through the corporate limits of the Town of Winfield.

The de-annexation request first came before the Oneida Planning Commission, Mayor Lay stated, and will be subject to a public hearing as well as a vote on the second reading of the ordinance before final approval.

In other business, the board approved a request from Oneida Police Chief Mike Cross and Officer Paul Adkins to establish a motorcycle patrol as a means of curtailing fuel costs as well as to enable an officer to maneuver through heavy traffic and become a first responder to accident scenes.

Officer Adkins informed the board of a study he had done to illustrate the fuel savings the department can realize by replacing a police cruiser (Ford Crown Victoria) with a police motorcycle unit. He also informed the board of the fact that one dealer had quoted a purchase price of $12,500 for the motorcycle and $3,500 to initially equip it with a police package (lights, siren and radio). That motorcycle would be bought back by the dealer for $12,000 at the end of one year of service and the police package could be transferred to the new unit at a cost of $500, Adkins said.

While Adkins is currently the only officer trained for motorcycle patrol, at least two others (one full time and one part time) have indicated their willingness to attend a two-week spring training program at the Donnelson Police Academy in the spring, Chief Cross told the board.

Chief Cross’s recommendation received unanimous approval of the board.

Also Thursday night, the board:

• Approved a resolution for the Town of Oneida’s participation in the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) program which, according to Mayor Lay, will not only protect workers in all departments but will eliminate fines for any and all safety violations;

• Voted to allow the Oneida Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) to conduct a fund-raising road block at the Oak Grove traffic light from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on October 1; and,

• Heard an activity report for the month of August from Fire Chief Mike Stringer, whose firefighters conducted four meetings/training sessions during the month as well as responded to four calls.

newsroom@ihoneida.com

Enjoy the Independent Herald? Have it delivered to your door! Click here for details.