Residents must speak up about annexation

The cities of Palmer and Wasilla are holding public meetings in the next two weeks about possible annexations. Residents who now live in the cities and those who don’t, but may be affected, should take time to attend one or more of the meetings.

Too often residents complain because their neighborhood is changed and they didn’t know it was coming. This shouldn’t happen in these cases. There have been plenty of announcements, including this one, alerting residents of possible changes to city boundaries.

If you live in a city, you might think this won’t affect you.

First, if the city grows, then the new residents should rightly expect improved services for things like snow removal, police protection and water and sewer.

It’s unlikely either city can move fast enough to hire new employees and buy equipment to provide those services immediately. So, at least in the short term, services may be spread thin.

For those who may be enveloped by the new boundaries, you’ll have to start paying for all the goodies your new city promises. And you will be obliged to obey its ordinances. Licensed a cat lately? Both cities have books thick with rules and regulations that their new citizens will be expected to follow.

So it will behoove residents and people who may be residents to attend the meetings and ask questions.

For instance, when the city grows, will there be dedicated parks in the new areas?

Farmers should be particularly alert since zoning will determine whether you get to keep doing what you are doing.

Locals should also wonder about what the possible annexations will do to the face of the Valley. One of the reasons the cities want more land is so they can increase their tax rolls, mostly through commercial development. They hope new businesses will start operations here.

It’s true that more business would also create more jobs and draw more people.

There are already plenty of differences — see ATV use — between people who have recently moved here and brought their sense of order with them versus people who have lived here for decades and have their own priorities.

Both have a right to know how the core of the Valley is going to grow. And both should have suggestions ready at the meetings. Everybody has a stake in these discussions. Make time to attend so you can help shape your future.