Council hears 281 annexation complaints

October 04, 2012, 5:50 pm by Adam Troxtell

Veterinarian Tim Thompson tells Marble Falls City Council why he opposes the city's bid to annex territory that includes his land along the southern US 281 corridor. Thompson owns and operates Hope Animal Clinic.

Landowners along the southern US 281 corridor leading out of Marble Falls said they don't see the benefit of being annexed into the city.

Six property owners went before city council Tuesday night in a public hearing on the city's intent to annex over 1,000 acres that extends its border south to TX 71 and to the east of US 281. This included veterinarian and owner of Hope Animal Clinic Tim Thompson, whose issues were expressed in a letter sent to the city last week.

"My biggest concern is, I understand Marble Falls is growing, but I don't see the benefit for us,” Thompson said to council members.

Most of the landowners said the services promised to them in an agreement – which was sent out by mail in August but Thompson says he's never received – are ones they already have, such as water, sewage and fire and police protection. Bryan Coffey, who runs All Star Storage on 281, said he would prefer to pull out of being annexed and not pay more in taxes for services he does not need.

"It sounds like our best option is to stay how we are and opt out of it, if possible,” Coffey said.

Property owners whose land is agriculturally exempt were given the option to opt out when Marble Falls notified them of the annexation, but the 30-day deadline since notification passed on Sept. 22. Their concerns were noted, and Mayor George Russell asked that city staff do what they must to issue a response to all property owners via mail before Oct. 15.

A second public hearing is scheduled for the Oct. 16 council meeting at 6 p.m., and final approval of the annexation is set to go before council on Nov. 6.

For the full story, see Friday's Highlander.

Reader Comments

Those property owners are correct when there will be no benefit to them.. The city will be the only one benefiting from this since they will get all that tax money from the high dollar commercial propertys and wont provide anything substantial to the well being and safety for the owners..And as far as the Mayor asking the staff to respond to those who spoke against this. Answering questions is standard procedure and it wont matter in the long run as the council already had decided to annex..
October 02, 2012, 10:01pm by Roy

Tim Thompson and Bryan Coffey are correct. There will be no benefits.
October 08, 2012, 3:10pm by Dwayne