Sherwood sets Gravel Ridge annexation vote
Thursday, December 20, 2007 2:08 PM CST
| |
| Sherwood and Jacksonville are in a race to annex Gravel Ridge, an unincorporated community along Highway 107. (Photo by Greg Rayburn)
|
City competes with Jacksonville on adding community to its limits
Sherwood sets Gravel Ridge annexation vote
By Greg Rayburn \ Editor
In a unanimous vote Monday, the Sherwood City Council set a special election for March 11 to ask residents to approve the annexation of Gravel Ridge, an unincorporated community north of the city along Highway 107.
The council’s vote came after the Jacksonville City Council passed an ordinance Nov. 29 to set its own special election for Feb. 5 to annex the same community.
Gravel Ridge is located between Sherwood and Jacksonville and has 3,200 residents.
State law does permit two cities to compete in the annexation of the same piece of land. Once the first city passes an ordinance to set an annexation vote, another city has 30 days within which to pass its own annexation vote ordinance. In this case, Sherwood had until Dec. 29 to do so.
If both Jacksonville and Sherwood pass initiatives, a third annexation vote will be held, and Gravel Ridge residents will choose between the two cities.
If Gravel Ridge is annexed into Sherwood, Sherwood will provide Gravel Ridge fire, police, sanitation and sewer services, according to the ordinance. But if a majority of voters opposes annexation, Sherwood will not proceed with plans to annex the community.
Former Alderman Tom Brooks volunteered to start a committee to garner support for annexation.
“I would be willing to put $1,000 into that committee myself,” Brooks said.
Brooks told city officials he has been involved in several annexation projects in Sherwood and that his experience would be useful.
But Mayor Virginia Hillman said any committee to annex Gravel Ridge would need to originate in Gravel Ridge.
“I have talked with people from Gravel Ridge, and many have told me they would like to be a part of Sherwood,” Hillman said.
Alderwoman Becki Vassar said trying to annex Gravel Ridge is important to Sherwood’s future.
“It is our growth corridor,” she said.
Vassar said the city may need to make financial investments into Gravel Ridge, such as for fire protection. She asked residents to be patient if the city has to make such investments after annexing Gravel Ridge.
“This could be a win-win for everybody,” Hillman said.
She said some Gravel Ridge residents feel they are already part of Sherwood.
