City Council moving forward on annexation |
| October 7, 2011 |
|
After a contentious public hearing of the
Bonners Ferry Planning and Zoning Commission
September 29, and a vote of two yes to three no
to recommend that the idea of annexation be
stopped, the Bonners Ferry City Council on
Tuesday made motion to proceed with plans to
annex several properties into the limits of the
city. Those 77 properties, the city contends, receive city services at the same rate that city taxpayers do, but don't pay city taxes. During public hearing, nobody spoke in favor. Many spoke in opposition. "Why now?" asked Loretta Hunsaker. That question went unanswered. The City of Bonners Ferry has booked the big room at the Kootenai River at 5:30 p.m. Monday, November 14, to allow further consideration of the proposal, which will assure those residents proposed to be city residents, rather than county, the opportunity to plead their case again, and gives opportunity for those who back the city council's decision to speak their case as well. "Is it fair that they get the services, but don't pay the taxes that city residents do?" one councilman asked. While many who benefit from city services say they'd be happy paying a higher fee, federal law says the city can't charge it. |