For the week of Nov 28 - Dec 4, 2001

Hailey OKs new calculations for annexation fees

Amount for Airport West is $1.8 million

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By PETER BOLTZ
Express Staff Writer

And the number is… $1,830,149.

This is the potential annexation fee Airport West Partners will pay the city of Hailey for the benefit of becoming part of the city.

While the number is still up for negotiation between the city and the Airport West developers, the method for calculating the fee for all future annexations is now certain after the meeting Monday of the Hailey City Council.

It approved using a method devised by the consulting firm Tischler and Associates from Bethesda, Md.

Paul Tischler was hired after the city council in November 2000 gave city staff the go-ahead to advertise a request for proposals to study its annexation fee calculation method and its cost of services.

At that time, Hailey city planner Kathy Grotto said the city needed a new method of calculating annexation fees that would reflect the cost of annexation better than the 10-year-old method the city had been using.

The first opportunity for the city and Airport West Partners to come to an agreement on the exact annexation fee will be at the city council meeting on Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. at Hailey City Hall.

One factor to take into account in calculating the fee is the 5.13 acres the developers are donating to the city to build a shop for city vehicles.

The city and the developers have agreed the value of this land is $70,000 an acre, or $359,100.

Another factor is the payment schedule.

Before the exact amount of the annexation fee is approved, the two parties need to agree on how much money will be paid and when over six installments.

A dispute with the Blaine County Commissioners is another factor in the annexation.

Mayor Brad Siemer read a letter from Blaine County Commissioner Mary Ann Mix at the council’s Nov. 12 meeting that asked the city not to annex the Airport West property until the developers and the county had settled their differences.

Blaine County filed a condemnation suit against the partnership on May 10, 1995, seeking a 4.3-acre parcel at the northeast end of the property and adjacent to Airport Way.

Court documents reveal the county wanted the property to build a "judicial complex."

To date, the dispute has not been settled.

 

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