Annexation self-serving

Editor, Daily Press:

A short time back, the Tahlequah Public Works Authority came to the city council with a proposal to have a section of Nally Road and Ross Street annexed into the city. At that meeting, the only one for the annexation was Jim Lindsey, of TWPA, who asked for the annexation.

I called him the next day to make sure I understood what he was proposing, and he explained there was a housing development that wanted to go in the area and needed electricity. I told him people already lived in the area and they had electricity, then asked why it was necessary to ask for the parcel to be annexed.

He explained that yes, there was electricity to the area, but TPWA could provide better electrical service.

To me, that sounded pretty self-serving for TPWA. The people in the city of Tahlequah would pay for the annexation, rebuilding some very expensive roads that were badly damaged when TPWA put in the new water tower in the Teehee Addition, and installing sewer and water to the area when no one there wanted to be annexed into the city.

All of this, so TPWA could sell electricity.

Later, there was a town hall-type meeting, scheduled an hour before a city council meeting. It was not well-publicized, yet the grapevine must have worked well, because the room was full of people opposing the annexation.

I would suggest that all concerned citizens, which should be the entire population of Tahlequah, watch this scheme to annex more land into the city, and let their opinions be known to the councilors about the city’s annexing property that does not, at this time, lend itself to that.

When we allow service providers to decide who and what will be in the city limits, we are on a downhill slide and opening ourselves up to more unserviceable roads, lack of public facilities, and a static infrastructure. There needs to be a comprehensive planning committee, with unbiased individuals serving on it.

This committee should have the authority to make long-term plans with the approval of the citizens, not individually placed decisions by temporary members of the city council, or mayor, with whatever seems like a good idea at the time.

Without a comprehensive plan, we will find ourselves losing out to well-run cities that take pride in their communities and provide excellent and efficient health services; improve the attractiveness by making sidewalks usable; provide adequate parking; and have an adequately funded street maintenance program, and a host of other things the city needs to provide its citizens, rather than what TPWA wants so it can generate more money to become even more powerful in making long-term decisions for the city.

This annexation, if approved, will drain a lot of money from the city and benefit only TPWA.

The funds of Tahlequah can be better-utilized than annexing more property when it cannot adequately take care of what it already has.

Everett Childers

Tahlequah