City plans to annex nearly 70 properties

Efforts are underway to annex a number of properties into the city. Properties being considered are wholly surrounded by Whitefish city limits or have city utility connections.

During a work session Aug. 5, Whitefish City Council directed staff to move forward with plans to annex about 50 properties along Houston Drive and 17 on East Lakeshore Drive.

“We’ve been trying to concentrate on larger areas that are more substantial is size,” City Manager Chuck Stearns said. “Those that have utilities or are wholly surrounded.”

Based on state code regarding “wholly surrounded land,” city council has the authority to incorporate those properties without challenge or a public vote.

“I would like the city to start to accept some of these properties for taxes and lake protection,” Councilor Phil Mitchell said. “Our lake is one of our biggest assets.”

Annexation increases property taxes by about 20 percent. One reason is because the property owner pays city police protection costs and still continues to pay for the Flathead County Sheriff’s department as part of their tax bill.

Stearns said that by annexing properties, the owners would likely be encouraged to connect to city sewer services. That could be environmentally beneficial to Whitefish Lake, he noted.

“The theory is that those who are wholly surrounded are using city services every day,” Stearns said. “They are driving our roads and using our fire protection. If they are using our services they should pay for them.”

A few of the properties on East Lakeshore Drive, near Les Mason State Park, have already connected to city sewer and have signed waivers of protest for annexation.

City staff also presented council with options of annexing a few properties on Ramsey Avenue and West Lakeshore Drive, but those likely won’t be considered until 2014. Council set its priority for annexation as completing Houston Drive and East Lakeshore Drive this year.

“It helps what we want to do with water quality protection to get people on sewer service,” councilor Richard Hildner said.

City staff will begin analyzing the areas considered for annexation and what the financial impact to the city will be to provide services to the areas. The city will not be required to extend water and sewer lines to the properties, but to make those available for owners who want to connect.

Letters to will be mailed to property owners being considered for annexation. Council will eventually hold a public hearing and vote on a resolution to annex the properties.