Minutes-01/06/1965 (2)

It takes a lot off the county backs even though it cuts off some of their revenue. It would lower the tax-s on this property, because if agricultural land is inside the town, the agricultural tax is only 2/3 of what is in the county. The amount of taxes we would get from agricultural lands would only be 1/8 of a mill or something. Navy said you had better annex that Flansburg because of proposed speculation. In the meantime, if we can deal with these people: Wombecher, Sentman's, Leona—we are capable of servicing that property. Town is not obligated in any way at all. Here is the thing. If people request annexation like they did around Iowa City, we don't have to offer them anything. But, on the other hand, if we attempt to annex land where all the property owners get together and fight it, then we have to go to court and fight it. If we have an operational zoning board, it's not much of a problem. We're offering them protection if nothing else. There is no really set rule. If the county looks at it and says obviously Tiffin is a small town and they want this for expansion and growth, they should annex it. The way the law is now, we have a pretty firm power over zoning as it is. Hills has twice the evaluation of Tiffin and the same number of people practically. There are a lot of people in Iowa City becoming aware of the problem. When the sewer is in operation, there will be a little item in the paper. It only takes a simple letter—the property owner writes to the Council and asks that this parcel of land be annexed. If we don't make an attempt to annex in some organized fashion, we are going to be in trouble because speculators are going to get it one way or another. We will have to annex the land the plant is on. Annexation is a confusing thing to most people but it really doesn't mean a lot in our case. It does to a lot of people in the periphery of some towns because they are subject then to the zoning regulations. Most of these people are concerned about zoning. They are going to come in to a community and say we are going to move to Iowa City and we're looking for a 20 foot piece of land. Maybe the real estate agent isn't going to have the foggiest idea what this land is going to be used for. If they get the land they want and it is zoned, the right way. We are in a position to offer at least some basic utilities. 1. They are saving money 2. They will have more to say about how it will be zoned because the town isn't going to try to zone a piece of land for some use that the landowner doesn't want. Suggested that they could pump the well at the railroad tracks and test it. Wayne Reed said it is not unusual for a small town to lease several wells around town. Dale Flansburg has a 6" casing and big screen in shallow layer. New Business— Money, bills Wayne moved, Bill seconded motion to adjourn. Carried.