Residents can expect a brochure explaining both sides of the controversial East Mountain annexation for the upcoming referendum election.
City and opposition leaders will each write 500-word explanations of their respective positions on annexing nearly 160 acres in the eastern mountains. The city annexed the land earlier this year, but residents who objected launched a referendum to reverse the council's action. Voters will be asked to settle the matter at the Nov. 5 election.Although a petition contained enough signatures to require the election, City Recorder Janice Williams said another petition had been turned in favoring the annexation, but with different terms. She said many of the signatures on it were also on the petition against the annexation. "Did they really understand what they were signing?" she asked.
During a special strategy meeting Wednesday, the City Council gave Councilman Rob Bateman the nod to write the city's stance favoring the annexation.
Not all council members want the annexation. Councilman Don Watkins was a major opponent when he took office in January. Following the strategy discussion, Councilman Kent Hansen asked Watkins, "Is our (opposition) documentation going to get into their hands?" Watkins assured him it would.
Bateman noted that the strategy documents are public. Yet when given the assignment to write the 500-word explanation favoring the city, he said he didn't want it to get into the opposition's hands until he was ready to release it.
Hansen said he was concerned that the opposing group would write a statement that was misleading, but Councilwoman Phoebe Blackham said that shouldn't be a concern.