Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register
In discussing Mayor Jim Langfelder’s proposal to annex more than 250 city-owned properties on Lake Springfield Tuesday night, Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin said the city is in a tough position between displeasing the townships involved, Woodside, Ball and Rochester, or the affected homeowners.
The annexed properties would automatically transfer to Capital Township, which means the other townships would lose out on that tax money. Langfelder has proposed an agreement between the townships and the city so the properties could remain in their original townships.
But there were questions at Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting as to whether it would be better for homeowners to transfer to Capital, which has a lower property tax rate because it does not need money for road and bridge maintenance.
“I think we have to protect the to-be annexed citizens from a double layer of tax where they retain the current tax load from their current townships and they have the additional tax load of Springfield,” McMenamin said. “And it appears those annexed homeowners would be better off financially if they come into Capital.”
Langfelder said he would discuss taxes at a meeting with township officials on Wednesday afternoon. He and Ward 1 Ald. Chuck Redpath, whose ward covers the areas to be annexed, will then meet with lake residents Wednesday night. There will also be a public hearing at the next city council meeting on Aug 16 at 5:30 p.m.
Ultimately, Langfelder said, annexation would be good for the city. “We want to protect our only water source, plus we own the property,” he said.
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The annexation would make some public services more efficient, Langfelder said. For example, City Water, Light and Power owns and maintains the 27 miles of roads surrounding the lake.
“Our main focus is maintaining the lake and surrounding area,” said CWLP water division manager Ted Meckes. “It’d be great to get some help from the city.”
If the annexation proposal passes, the city’s public works department would take responsibility for most road maintenance from CWLP. And public works is much better equipped to take care of the roads, Meckes said.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 