(Spirit Lake)– A public hearing on a proposal by the city of Orleans to annex the Pioneer Beach area into its city limits drew a standing-room-only crowd to Tuesday’s Dickinson county board of supervisors meeting.
Orleans Mayor Carlton Mitchell told the supervisors most of the residents in the Pioneer Beach area have requested to become a part of Orleans, siting concern over things such as road maintenance. And one resident said they’d like the opportunity to hook up to a municipal telecommunications system, should that option eventually become available.
Trustees of Spirit Lake Township expressed their concern over the proposal. Trustee Josephine Gruhn told the supervisors the annexation would further deplete the township’s and county’s tax base.
A Pioneer Beach resident responded by saying the residents in that area are simply looking out for themselves by petitioning for the annexation.
The supervisors opted not to modify the annexation proposal. State law gives them seven days from Tuesday’s hearing in which to do that. They likewise tabled any action on the annexation itself. Supervisor Chairman David Gottsche said they’ll act on it at their December 28th meeting. Anyone with comments should submit them in writing to the county prior to that date. The City Development Board in Des Moines will make the final determination on whether or not the annexation will be allowed.
The city of Spirit Lake tried unsuccessfully to involuntarily annex the same area nearly 20 years ago. Spirit Lake representatives were on hand for Tuesday’s hearing, but didn’t say whether or not they would oppose Orleans trying to annex that area. Given the option, many residents in the affected area said they’d rather remain in the county than be annexed into the city of Spirit Lake, citing concern over taxes, building codes, an ordinance that bans open burning, and other issues.
