Wednesday, Jun. 10, 2009

Glen Carbon OKs dividing line with Troy

GLEN CARBON -- As Glen Carbon grows to the east, Interstate 70 will be the dividing line between the village and Troy.

The Glen Carbon Village Board approved an agreement Tuesday with the city of Troy to extend their agreed boundary along I-70 to Silver Creek. The previous agreement, enacted in 1994, stopped at the I-55-70 interchange.

But Mayor Rob Jackstadt said that if Glen Carbon is going to grow, it will mostly grow to the east.

"If you look at our borders from top to bottom, we're pretty squeezed," Jackstadt said. "By process of elimination, we're going toward the east."

Glen Carbon already has agreements with northern neighbor Edwardsville and southern neighbor Maryville. The Edwardsville border stops not far from I-55, however, and Jackstadt said it soon will be time to negotiate with Edwardsville, as well.

The agreement essentially states that the municipalities agree to annex new property only in the agreed area, though specific projects can be negotiated, as well. It helps to have a plan in place, Jackstadt said, even if development won't take place for 20 to 30 years.

"We really appreciate the cooperation and listening ... with Mayor (Tom) Caraker and the Troy officials," Jackstadt said. "We've had a very good dialogue and established a good working relationship going forward."

The vote was unanimous.

In other news, the board agreed to the restructuring of Charter Communications' bankruptcy, but it will not cost the village money. Attorney Terry Bruckert said the cable utility is up to date on its franchise payments and will continue to make those payments in bankruptcy.