Holts Summit aldermen discuss annexation of two subdivisions

Some residents of Golden Pond Subdivision and Hunter's Run Subdivision northwest of here have asked the city to consider annexing both subdivisions into the city.

Holts Summit City Administrator Brian Crane said in the past the city has operated with a policy of voluntary annexation only but it appears that neither of the two subdivisions will be able to achieve unanimous agreement among all residents in each subdivision.

Crane said the Holts Summit Board of Aldermen first needs to decide if they would consider involuntary annexation. That step would involve a series of election votes of the residents of the city and the residents of the subdivisions. He said the city would need to define each area to be annexed and prepare an extensive plan on how the city would extend services to the two areas.

Alderwoman Pamela Murray prepared a long list of questions she would like the city staff to answer before considering possible annexation.

Mayor Lucas Fitzpatrick said the city needs to consider the cost of the annexation to the city and the willingness of the residents in the area to be annexed. He said the impact of extending sewerage system services to the areas also needs to be considered.

Murray said the city also needs to weigh its obligations to current residents before proceeding with annexation. She suggested the city should have a long range plan before venturing out on annexation.

Crane said he was reluctant to spend a lot of time and money developing extensive plans for each of the areas involved if there is not strong interest by virtually all of the residents of the area to be annexed.

The board agreed to discuss the matter further at a later date.

In other action, the board approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with the Missouri Department of Transportation for entrance and exit ramp beautification projects in cooperation with the 54 Ramp Beautification Committee and the Holts Summit Community Betterment Association.

Murray, who is president of the association, told the mayor the 54 Ramp Beautification Committee has agreed to maintain a landscaped triangle of plantings within the ramps for three years. The area around the landscaped triangles normally would be mowed twice a year by MoDOT. But she said MoDOT plans to cut back on mowing for budget reasons and may not mow it this year.

Fitzpatrick said he did not want to commit the city to mowing t he remaining area because it would be too large of an area to maintain, especially considering the park areas the city is committed to maintain.

Crane told the board the city is planning its annual Easter Egg Hunt for children under age 9 on Thursday, April 21 in Hibernia Park.

He said this year plastic eggs with candy inside will be hidden for children. Older children will use the playground area of the park. Younger children will search for their plastic eggs in the another playground area set aside for disabled youngsters.