The Courier
News
Wendell Fixes Annexation Problems
Annexation is a process by which municipalities incorporate more land. This process can be very complicated and mistakes are often made, especially by cities that have not done this before or have not done so for a long time. Case in point, the City of Wendell annexed several parcels of ground about eight years ago. After an overwhelming negative response by landowners, the city then went through a de-annexation process (2006). This left the city with some oddly shaped borders on the southeast corner of town. The three main reasons for
the annexation were: one, to deal with highway district issues; two, to expand the city into areas needing city services; and three, to bring areas of potential growth into the city. This last reason is what upset most people because it included land which owners did not want in the city. As with many decision our elected officials make, there were political miscalculations on the part of some, which left hard feelings and suspicion towards the city government. There was, however, a bigger mistake. When land is annexed into a city, the primary issue that
must be dealt with is zoning. Because the property is now under city jurisdiction, any zoning the county may have had on this land is null and void. Therefore, if a residential or industrial project is being annexed, that land must be zoned appropriately as part of the annexation process. Even if the land in question has not been developed, city zoning must be applied. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on what a landowner can build or do on his property. This is exactly what happened (or did not happen) in the Wendell annexation – no continued on page 7.....
The Camas County High School Student Council is holding a Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive for the Southern Idaho Salvation Army all this week. The drive will end this Friday, April 11th. If you would like to donate, please bring you donations to the Camas County High School.
April 9
,2014
Volume 38 ~ Number 15 News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
CourierNews.webs.com
March Precipitation Helps Water Supply Rebound BOISE, ID, APRIL 7, 2014 – Back–to-back months of above average precipitation across most of Idaho boosted the water supply outlook according to the April report released by the Idaho Natural Resources Conservation Service. March precipitation amounts ranged from 103% to 190% of normal. “The water year started with four dry months from October to January,” said Ron Abramovich, Water Supply Specialist with the Idaho Natural Resources Conservation Service. “The water supply made an amazing recovery due to the February and March precipitation.” “However, despite good precipitation the last two months we are predicting water shortages in several areas,” said Abramovich. Predicted water supply shortages will occur in the Big Wood, Big Lost, Little Lost, Oakley, Owyhee, and Salmon Falls basins. Higher elevations accumulated snow while lower elevations got rain. Abramovich notes the mid-elevation snowpack, between 5,0006,000 feet, was lacking across central Idaho from Weiser in the west to Swan Valley in the east. The mid-elevation snows continued on page 8.....