Published: September 15, 2009 05:15 pm      

London council votes to begin annexation process

By Carl Keith Greene / Staff Writer

In a vote of three to three with the mayor breaking the tie, the London City Council consented Tuesday night to begin the process of annexing about six square miles of land west of town.

Voting against the proposal were Dan Phelps, Bill Dezarn and Sharon Benge. In the affirmative were Nancy Vaughn, Jason Hackney and Judd Weaver. Mayor Troy Rudder broke the tie with his vote in the affirmative.

The discussion of the annexation began about three months ago when residents of Twin Oaks subdivision sought annexation in an effort to keep the owners of adjoining land from placing a mobile home park and recreational vehicle storage site on a large farm that adjoins the subdivision.

The subdivision does not adjoin the city limits directly.

The area included in the proposed annexation begins on the north end of Parker Road on the west side of I-75 and includes the land between that road and the interstate highway, crosses KY 192 and curls back to I-75 behind Combs subdivision, the London Country Club and the Hunters’ Trace subdivision.

An ordinance stating the intent to annex was ordered to be drafted. Once the intent ordinance is published, the owners of the land have 60 days to file a petition seeking a referendum in which the residents of the area may vote on whether to approve the annexation.

During the meeting, Dezarn suggested the annexation be postponed until sewers and other utilities needed can be installed in the area.

Handy expressed concern that the water service rate now charged by the London Utility Commission outside the city limits would go down after annexation because the customers would be then inside the city limits.

Utility Commission Superintendent Randy Bingham assured him that the change will not affect the commission’s budget to any great extent.

Vaughn said, “It’s the right time for annexation,” noting that the city has enough income to support the additional space.

Phelps said the council needs a better understanding of the numbers of residents who are in favor of or against the annexation.

“I don’t see how we can afford it,” he added.

In other business, Kevin Carroll, owner of the land on which the Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealer is built, sought a change in the city’s liquor laws to allow live musical entertainment in restaurants that sell liquor.

He said at least one large restaurant chain is interested in putting a facility on adjoining land that is owned by Carroll.

The council agreed to study the ordinance and propose changes at the next meeting.

The council voted to keep its real property and personal property tax rates at the same level as last year.

It reappointed Frank Cornett to the Utility Commission board of directors, Steve Berry to the Vacant Property Commission board of directors, Harriet Hubbard to the Ethics Board and Ed Manning, Ed Sibert, Shirrill Hall, Debbie Prewitt, Franklin Jones and Bruce Yandell to the Zoning Adjustment Board and approved a parade permit for the World Chicken Festival parade.