City Commission Approves Resolution to Proceed with Annexation of N Ohio Land Tract

At Monday's City Commission Meeting, Commissioners considered the approval of a resolution requesting that the Saline County Commission approve the annexation of a 19.80 acre tract of land located on the west side of North Ohio Street south of 1-70 to allow a proposed warehouse facility to be constructed by Beck's Hybrid Seeds to receive City water and sanitary sewer service.

BACKGROUND:

Beck's Hybrid Seeds has contracts to purchase 35.23 acres from the Ward Family Trust and 15.42 acres from DK Farm and Ranch. A total of 50.66 acres. They are proposing to take 23.92 acres and rezone and plat it to create a platted building lot for their corporate campus. The remaining 26.74 acres would be used for agricultural test plots. Of the 23.92 acres that would form their corporate campus, 19.80 acres (owned by the Ward Family Trust) is located outside the current city limits. Representatives of Beck's have filed an application requesting annexation of a 19.80-acre tract located west of the existing city limits in order to connect to City utilities and receive full municipal services for their new building that would serve as a sales office and warehouse space for their Salina operation. Companion applications have been filed requesting rezoning and preliminary plat approval for the proposed 23.92-acre development site. The City's policy is to require annexation before any development can connect to City utilities.

Because the Ward Trust property is not contiguous to the existing city limits, annexation must be approved by the Saline County Commission. KSA 12-520c provides the statutory authority for the City to request and for the County to approve island annexations. A resolution requesting County Commission approval is attached. If the City Commission approves the attached resolution, and if the County Commission grants their consent, then the annexation ordinance will be placed on a future City Commission agenda for approval on second reading.

FISCAL NOTE:

If annexed into the city this property would be subject to the City's property tax mill levy. The City of Salina already has maintenance responsibility for North Ohio Street abutting the proposed Becks Addition property.

The Resolution was approved 3-0. Mayor Hoppock recused himself, while Commissioner Ryan was not present.