Bloomington city council OKs annexation on 6-3 votes for all territories, except north area
The outcomes on the remaining annexation votes taken by Bloomington’s city council on Wednesday night unfolded as expected, based on the previous week’s initial session on the topic.
Including Area 1A on the west side of the city, which got an OK last week, seven of the eight proposed areas for annexation were approved, all on 6–3 votes. The three dissenting votes came from Dave Rollo, Susan Sandberg and Ron Smith.
A key argument for the three dissenters was the idea that the city of Bloomington was not in a position to extend some services to the new territory. The specific services causing concern relate to public safety.
The current disparity between the number of sworn officers employed by Bloomington’s department (91) and the number who are authorized (105)—in the context of the 23 to 35 additional officers called for in the fiscal plans—led dissenters to conclude it is unrealistic to think Bloomington could provide public safety services to the new areas.
Those voting in favor cited standard arguments in favor of annexation, including: the idea that annexation is a natural part of the history of cities; that those who own land near municipal boundaries already enjoy several benefits of that proximity, so it’s fair for them to pay city property taxes; and the idea that the remonstrance waivers signed by landowners in exchange for extension of sewer service is a contractual agreement that landowners should expect to fulfill.
Public comment and sparring among councilmembers this week was spirited, even though it was already evident before the deliberations started, based on last week’s action, how the votes would add up.
The final vote at the end of a five-hour meeting was not taken until 11:30 p.m. That vote was taken on Area 7 to the north of the city. Bloomington mayor John Hamilton’s administration had come around to the view that the area was not an essential part of the annexation proposal and asked the council not to approve the annexation of Area 7.
Now come the potential remonstrance processes, which under state law, have a 90-day window after the publication by Bloomington of the ordinances in a newspaper, as defined under Indiana state law.
