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Annexation revenue won’t cover attorney fees, Ken Gillis says
By Rose Hooper
“The tax revenues you receive from my property will never exceed the attorney fees you’ll have to pay,” Jack the Dipper property owner Ken Gillis told Webster town board members Aug. 16 during their public hearing on annexing Rivercrest Subdivision.
Gillis implied he would seek legal action against board members if they proceeded with plans to annex his property.
Webster officials voted in June to annex the 43-acre subdivision, including the adjoining Jack the Dipper ice cream shop.
“I see a major problem with the logic and sense of annexing my property into Webster,” Gillis said.
“If you don’t want commercial property, why do you want my business?” he asked the board.
Board member Louise Bedford told Gillis that Jack the Dipper would come in as a “non-conforming business.
“It would remain a business as long as it stays the same. But if it ever changes use, that would have to meet board approval,” Bedford told him.
The value of his property lies in “further commercial development,” Gillis said. “My intention is to sell it to someone to develop it.”
Instead of being annexed by Webster, Gillis said he preferred to voluntarily annex to the town of Sylva.
“That would give the property potential for beer and wine sales,” he said. “I would be happy to pay additional taxes to Sylva to have revenues from beer and wine.”
Bedford told him that according to state statutes, he could not voluntarily annex to Sylva since his property was closer to Webster.
“You can only annex to the nearest municipality,” she said.
Gillis said another alternative for him would be to apply to become an independent municipality such as Forest Hills.
Board member Kirk Stephens said he was “not adverse to considering a business zoning designation” for Gillis’ property.
“Webster has nothing to offer me,” said Gillis. “My property already has water and sewer and is served by the Cullowhee Volunteer Fire Department.”
Mayor Steve Gray said the board would take Gillis’ concerns “under advisement.”
No decision can be made for 10 days, Gray told Gillis. During that time frame the board will allow Gillis to submit additional written materials.
Rivercrest resident Tyler Blethen told the board he is not opposed to the annexation, but has some concerns, including services – especially upkeep of the road.
Webster resident Margaret Simpson said she opposed the annexation because it would “ruin Webster.”
The board’s August meeting has been changed from its regular third Thursday to Thursday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m.
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