City initiates annexation of Hillcrest

WORLAND - The Worland City Council took the first step to annex the northern portion of Hillcrest Subdivision into the city limits during Tuesday night's regular meeting.

Mayor Jim Gill opened the discussion by stating he would like the council to move forward with the Grow Worland Initiative to ensure that the city of Worland maintains a population of more than 5,000. If the city drops below 5,000 during the next census (2020) then the city will lose Urban Systems funding to help with building new streets. The city has $600,000 saved through the Urban Systems program, and receives about $100,000 annually.

City limit boundaries will be set Dec. 31 for the next census. Estimates for the city's population are just under 5,200.

The quickest way to increase population is to annex current portions adjacent to the city into the city limits. City Attorney Kent Richins said there are certain legal requirements, foremost is that anything annexed must be contiguous with the current city boundaries.

When initially discussing the Grow Worland Initiative, the city looked at inviting whole subdivisions to come into the city including Sunset, North Hillcrest, Ponderosa, Cormier, Gee and Gee Wilderness.

This summer the city sent letters to residents in those subdivisions east of town asking for input regarding annexation into the city. A public hearing was held July 30 to hear comments from residents.

The council discussed the meeting briefly in August but had not considered any action until Tuesday.

Gill said he would like all elected officials in the city and county to support the city's efforts on behalf of all voting citizens. "This effort, after all, is to protect the interests of the citizens who pay the bills to keep the city functioning, relevant and solvent," he said.

Richins said, "We're in a position timewise where we need to either make a move or we don't."

He said the staff and mayor met on Monday to discuss the next move for the city.

"We have an area that we think would be appropriate, logical, financially feasible and I think sufficient enough to keep us above board and where we need to be at in the census," Richins said.

That area, he said is the northern portion of Hillcrest Subdivision and the Healy property adjacent to the Hillcrest Subdivision. He said the southern portion of Hillcrest is already within the city limits on the east edge of the city. There is already city water and sewer connected to the homes so infrastructure is already there.

City Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Glanz said there are about 30 residences within the proposed annexed area.

Richins said the Healy

property is being included in the proposal because they have expressed interest in coming into the city limits. Since the property is not contiguous with the current city limits they cannot be annexed by themselves, but could be annexed with the Hillcrest subdivision.

TIMELINE

Richins told the council if they approved moving forward, the next step would be for him to develop an annexation resolution for the council and an annexation report and hearing notice to be delivered to the landowners. Notice of the hearing must be provided at least 20 business days prior to the hearing.

He said he is proposing a public hearing on Nov. 5, with a time and location to be determined. First reading could be on the regular council meeting following the hearing on Nov. 6, but he noted that is election day. Second reading could be on Nov. 20 and third and final reading on Dec. 4.

After third reading there is a 20-day objection period, which would end Dec. 25. The annexation would become effective Jan. 1.

During the objection period, the annexation would be stopped if 51 percent of the landowners opposed the annexation or landowners who own 51 percent of the land being annexed oppose the annexation.

Richins told the council that he has heard from a handful of residents in Hillcrest who are in favor and a handful opposed but does not know about the others in the subdivision.

Regarding the annexation report, Richins said that there are a few things to iron out including whether the residents would want to keep the ability to shoot off fireworks, something prohibited within the city limits.

As noted in previous meetings, Richins said, "We don't want them to have to change their lifestyle." He added, however, one area of concern is whether the new area would have to adhere to current city building codes.

He said sanitation services would begin Jan. 1 and the city may consider reaching out to the county about continuing snow removal in the area.

The motion to proceed was unanimous with Loresa Brinkerhoff absent.

Richins said the resolution, which will come before the council Oct. 2, would officially start the process.