Letter to the Editor

Annexation issues

Tuesday, October 14, 2003

Dear Editor,

Have you ever wanted to be a little mouse sitting in the corner watching democracy in action? I had that privilege last night at an annexation hearing by the McCook Planning Committee.

A long line of my friends and neighbors circulated through the "hot seat" speaking into the microphone publicly stating their opinion. Testimony seemed to be unanimous, "We do not want to be annexed into the city of McCook." There seemed to be two reasons not to become McCook citizens: they did not want to pay higher taxes and they did not want to be subjected to unreasonable and arbitrary actions by city government.

All those who testified professed to be satisfied with the services received from the County: police (sheriff), fire protection, street/road maintenance including snow removal and their commercial garbage service. All are served by their own septic systems and those on city water were of the opinion that the 50 percent surcharge was fair.

I was interested to hear testimony that our close-by neighbors were happy to pay the sales tax which helps relieve some of the property tax burden of city residents.

Darrel Potthoff stated that if the city needed more tax money they only needed to raise the sales tax enough to meet their needs.

Interestingly enough no one objected to paying (sales) taxes without being able to vote on the issue or even vote on candidates for city offices. None expressed disappointment with the fact they were not eligible to sit on the City Council.

I heard two messages loud and clear. 1. Our city taxes are too high; the value received is not worth the cost. 2. The city regulations on street paving, subdivision and sewer hookup requirements are arbitrary, unreasonable and so expensive as to hamper development within the city limits.

I wonder if perhaps the city could reduce our tax levy by reducing costs it would make the annexation path a little easier. Countywide law enforcement with elimination of the municipal police department would be a good first step that would pare about $900,000 from the city budget. Our current subdivision regulations hamper development by making it too expensive in the present business climate. Perhaps concrete streets with expensive curb and gutter, while nice, are not worth the cost to those who have to pay the bill.

I thank all of you who testified last night. Hopefully you have shown those of us in city government that we need to make improvements in how we do business.

Dick Trail

McCook

City Councilman

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