Iola City Council members said they would look “cautiously and aggressively” in considering annexation of up to three subdivisions outside Iola’s city limits.
Council member Beverly Franklin said she was eager to see the city look at growth beyond the existing city boundaries.
Franklin was joined by a handful of supportive audience members, including Iolans Jim Gilpin, Donna Houser and David Toland, as well as Ken Gilpin and Don Diebolt, who live in or own property in subdivisions under discussion.
The city will look at three areas — Country Estates, a neighborhood immediately north of the old Haldex Brake plant containing about 60 houses or properties; Burris and Country Club areas along a stretch of land bordering U.S. 54 between Iola and Gas with 21 properties; and Country Club Heights, land surrounding the Allen County Country Club. Only Country Estates is on land adjoining existing city limits.
Council members directed City Administrator Carl Slaugh to begin a cost analysis to compare how the city’s revenues would grow with more properties and utility customers versus the costs to extend utilities, maintain streets and provide services such as trash pick-up.
“I’m very much in favor of annexation, but at what cost?” Councilman Kendall Callahan said.
Jim Gilpin, a member of the Iola Industries Board of Directors, offered three points: growing cities tend to act aggressively when considering annexation and expanding their geographic footprints; as a utility provider, it’s in Iola’s interest to systematically acquire more homes, and consequently, increase the number of utility hookups; and a long-term master plan toward annexation and housing improvement might be one of the best initiatives the city could take to retain the jobs it has while attracting new employers.
Ken Gilpin spoke about having a strong vested interest in what goes on in Iola, but with no recourse to vote on city matters because he lives outside city limits. Likewise, he noted he and his neighbors purchase utilities from the city but do not pay property taxes.
