Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2009

Collinsville eyes State Park annexation

COLLINSVILLE -- City leaders are revisiting the idea of annexing State Park Place.

During a city strategic session Monday night, and prior to the City Council meeting, Assistant Community Development Director Mitch Bair said many have called inquiring about possible annexation.

The city surrounds three sides of the community of about 400 properties on the north and south sides of Collinsville Road. Most of those are on the north side and reside in Madison County, and the rest are in St. Clair County.

"We'd like to take steps and move forward," Bair said.

He also said the issue was discussed 18 months ago. Few of the area's residents responded to they city's survey, but of those respondents, Bair said most were in favor or conditionally in favor of being brought into Collinsville.

According to city cost estimates, the annexed community would need $129,753 annual cost for police, $120,000 per year cost to maintain streets and $50,133 initially in additional revenue a year. Bair said there would be no immediate costs for water and sewer. He also said the proposed annexation would be voluntary and could take three to five years.

City Manager Bob Knabel said that if enough residents wanted then, others who lived adjacent and surrounded by annexed properties would also come into the city.

"We identified those interested and willing to annex," Knabel said. "This is not a forced annexation. If we surrounded them, then we do have the legal right. That is the approach we are recommending to the council."

According to Councilwoman Liz Dalton, the move was discussed 20 years ago.

"Until we take an aggressive attitude ... nothing is going to happen," Dalton said. "We need to move ahead."

However, Councilwoman Lisa Ciampoli had many questions about the cost and whether the city could adequately provide services to the residents of State Park Place.

"I have great reservations," Ciampoli said. "And I'm not sure I am for this at all."

Knabel agreed that the move would be difficult but said if the city went forward with the annexation, it would not be included in the current fiscal year budget.

"You reflect the attitude of many people in the community," Knabel said in response to Ciampoli. "It's a tough decision to make."

"It's not an easy question. There is a lot of uncertainty with cost and services."

Mayor John Miller said that State Park Place sits at the gateway to Collinsville, and that the city can bring a lot of expanded services to that community.

"We're losing something there by not doing something," Miller said.

"They have deficiencies in proper services ... They do as well as they can with the tax dollars they get. We've got a lot of potential there."