Posted 9/27/01 Annexation approved to keep control of growth By MaryHelen Swanson The board room was empty except for two members of the press and one city resident as the Rush City council took up the issue of annexation of Larry Gratonís property once again early this week. Their unanimous decision? To proceed with the annexation by ordinance amendment with the understanding that it will afford the city an opportunity to promote organized, orderly growth. With Gratonís options open to develop five-acre homesites without city annexation, the council agreed it would be in the cityís best interest to annex and have some control over the type and rate of growth. Early in the discussion, City Attorney Joe Anderson assured the council that a developer of this land would have to comply with all city ordinances when the time comes for development. He said potentially rezoning would be necessary. The annexation request came with a promise from Graton and developer Fegowi Development Inc. that no development would be considered for three and a half years. Attorney Anderson noted that the annexation request was legal as the property, located southeast of town, does abut city limits. The annexation is complete upon publication of the ordinance amendment in the official city newspaper. In other business, the council: ï Learned that FEMA turned down the cityís grant request for firefighting equipment. City Administrator Daniel Hoffman noted that 19,000 fire departments (30,000 total requests) across the country applied for the $100 million allocated by the federal government. In all, the requests totalled just under $3 billion. Apparently priority went to fire departments requesting funds for first-time equipment purchases. ï Awarded the utilities project for water and sewer extensions to the golf course to Barbarossa & Sons for the amount of $394,759.90. Portions of this project will be assessed to property owners on the east side of the freeway. The project is expected to be completed this fall. ï Approved hiring Mell Construction to do some drainage work in the Jay Addition for $17,000, with the money to come out of TIF funds for Housing #2 district. ï Moved to name the municipal liquor store ìNorth End Liquors.î ©Post Review