Willard City may soon annex South Willard community in Box Elder County, a move that would almost double the size of the city population and land.
The Box Elder County Commission discussed the possibility of annexing South Willard into Willard City on May 7 during a public meeting. Since then, friends and neighbors have continued the debate.
No one knows yet if the majority of South Willard citizens want to be annexed or if Willard City wants for South Willard to be annexed, said Mitch Zundel, a Willard City council member and Box Elder County economic development director.
The Commission is considering a possible annexation that would include much of the unincorporated South Willard community east of Interstate 15 and a small portion west. South Willard residents already receive garbage pickup and fire protection from the City of Willard. The Box Elder County Sheriff’s Department already provides police protection to South Willard.
Water is presently provided to South Willard by the South Willard Water Co. and the Bear River Water Conservancy District. A South Willard resident could receive city water if their property was annexed into the Willard or if the city had surplus water and chose to sell it, Zundel said.
“It’s not about a sewer water system,” he said. “It’s about annexation in general.”
It is not a black-and-white decision, Zundel said. The two communities are already blended together in many ways, but there are questions about community zoning; long-term growth and planning in general; trail systems; livability; and sustainability.
One of the challenges for future South Willard residents is that they will possibly need city sewer if the lots are smaller than the half acre required for a septic system, Zundel said. If the city provides sewer services for these future residents, he said, it would make sense to also provide water.
If water were somehow provided, that service could be shut off if people were not paying their bill for water, sewer and other services, he said. Unless the state changes its requirements, the water and sewer issue would only affect people who move into houses yet to be built.
It would be unfair for people to reap the benefits of city services without paying for them, Zundel said.
“It’s not that we want to control the citizens, but the city has to pay its bills,” he said.
Box Elder County Attorney Stephen Hadfield explained the annexation process to both South Willard and Willard City residents at the public hearing. Fifty-one percent of South Willard private property owners would need to sign a formal petition in favor of the annexation, he said. Additionally, the total property value of those signers would have to total at least one-third of the total private property value of South Willard.
After the petition is received by the City of Willard, the City would have 14 days to either accept or reject the petition, he said. If accepted, South Willard would be annexed.
Three land owners who asked the Commission to allow them to hook their properties into the Willard City sewer system. These three owners have already upgraded the sewer lines in the City of Willard on what is now mostly undeveloped farmland.
Several South Willard residents expressed concern over the possible annexation, citing development concerns, property taxes increases and a possible requirement to hook into the Willard City sewer system. Many South Willard residents who have purchased septic tanks do not wish to hook into the sewer system.
Bill Shaw, a South Willard property owner who is particularly concerned about the possible annexation, said he and several other families disconnected from Willard City a few years ago due to the city’s zoning issues and tax problems. Shaw feels the annexation of South Willard will bring back those original arguments that caused him to leave Willard City in the first place.
South Willard resident Ben Crook also opposes the annexation. As a former member of the South Willard Advisory Committee, Crook recounted to the Commission how he worked with the county planner to create a master plan that would ensure the quality of life currently enjoyed by South Willard residents.
He also pointed out that while county taxes would continue to be imposed on residents, Willard City taxes would be added to their tax burden.
Mellonee Wilding, another South Willard resident, listed several advantages to the annexation in her South Willard Area blogspot. Wilding explained any big-name developer could potentially pay out of pocket to put a sewer system into South Willard and then further develop the area. Since South Willard is unincorporated, it falls under the jurisdiction of the County Commission with very little say from residents.
“We are currently represented by the County Commission,” Wilding writes, “who must take into account the best good of the county, not just South Willard.”
South Willard would receive representation with the annexation and be guarded by possible high-density development through the zoning codes and authority already in place in Willard City, she said in her blog.
Willard City Mayor Kenny Braegger told residents that if the annexation is not a “win-win situation” for both sides, it will not happen.
The County Commission would like to hear resident comments on the annexation of South Willard. The commissioners can be contacted by calling Box Elder County at 435-734-3347 or by emailing commissioners at the following addresses:
Commission Chairman Ryan Tingey rtingey@boxeldercounty.org
Commissioner LuAnn Adams ladams@boxeldercounty.org
Commissioner Stan Summers summers@boxeldercounty.org
Photo by: Kristen Hunter -Keith & Cindi Davis live on the border of Willard & So. Willard and see no benefit in annexation.
