| City, townships don't see eye-to-eye on annexation |
By: SUZANNE ROOK, Managing Editor
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Posted: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 9:48 pm
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NORTHFIELD — It’s not what you think.
Despite e-mailboxes full of messages and a packed house at Monday night’s council meeting, city officials insisted the proposed change to its annexation ordinance was just a bit of housekeeping.
The council unanimously approved the modification that says out-of-town property owners only need to notify their township before requesting annexation. The current ordinance doesn’t align with state statute and, according to a city-hired attorney, could invite litigation.
But township residents didn’t see it that way. On Monday morning, Greg Langer, newly elected Greenvale Township supervisor and Waterford Township businessman, said he believes the change is a way to break a nearly 30-year old agreement with Waterford. The document doesn’t allow annexation from that township without its board’s authorization.
The council’s actions don’t negate the agreement, said Community Development Director Brian O’Connell on Monday night. “Regardless of what you do with regard to this ordinance, these agreements (with the townships) remain unchanged,” he said.
“A lot of us in Waterford understand that Northfield needs to grow,” said Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, also director of the Rural Enterprise Center. “But don’t discredit us who want to stay agricultural.”
Waterford Town Clerk and farmer Erin Johnson asked the city to ensure the rural nature of the townships is maintained. “I challenge you to go beyond the state statute,” she asked. “Can’t you be stricter than the state statute?”
But attorney and former councilor Noah Cashman pushed the council to approve the ordinance, agreeing that city and state laws shouldn’t conflict.
“It’s not about annexation,” he said.
Langer on Monday said the issue was about respect — and the lack thereof.
That was a theme Rossing said she has heard over and over. The charge, she believes is untrue, and thanked city staff for taking time Monday to review the city’s annexation agreements, which she said “framed the issue.”
The council agreed it’s time to discuss growth in the region with its township counterparts, but didn’t set a framework for such meetings.
“Don’t focus on this ordinance,” Councilor Betsey Buckheit said to township residents. “Look ahead so the planning process is far more mutual. Let’s move on to more genuine, big picture agreements later on.”
— Suzanne Rook can be reached at srook@northfieldnews.com or 645-1113. |
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Who will feed all these hordes of people and businesses who this illustrious city council is displacing agriculture with? Companies are moving out of the U.S. because of the taxes the feds are laying on them. Why would they move to Northfield? People are moving to small towns - that's published statistics. Why would they move to Northfield whose city council wants to grow into a big town with smog and slums? If you want a big community, why don't you move to Minneapolis?
Relax, mngirl. There is no danger of Northfield growing into anything resembling a big city. There are no hordes of businesses clamoring to move here, just talk to any of the people trying to sell homes here. There's no smog or slums on the horizon (although I'm wondering whether you are opposed to slums as a social justice issue or just interested in keeping them somewhere else.) The economy is so soft that I'll be it will be at least three years before Northfield begins feeling any recovery that would lead to new development.