FORNEY, Texas — Mesquite City Council members reviewed their proposed annexation plans on Monday and provided direction to scale down some of the proposed areas.
FORNEY, Texas — Mesquite City Council members reviewed their proposed annexation plans on Monday and provided direction to scale down some of the proposed areas.
In total, Mesquite Director of Community Development, Richard Gertson, says notice was provided to about 472 property owners on Mesquite’s proposed annexation. The area includes 347 rooftops on 5,520 acres in Dallas and Kaufman County.
The council, racing a December 1 deadline on new state laws governing annexation, plans to scale down the number of tracts to less than 100 in an effort to meet state law exemptions.
Despite the scale down, District 4 State Representative Lance Gooden is urging all residents in and around the proposed annexation areas to stand up and fight against the annexation plans, whether or not you are eventually removed from the plans with the scale down.
On Saturday morning, Gooden hosted a “call-to-action” town hall meeting in Crandall in which he announced upcoming council meetings, public hearings, and legal plans to fight the annexation.
Some of the residents in attendance of the town hall were annexed by Mesquite several years ago and argued nothing has been done to provide city services to their area despite now paying taxes to the city. Those in the proposed annexations areas fear the same for themselves, a tax bill without the benefits of city services.
During the pre-meeting on Monday, council members provided some direction to city staff on the scale down which will be presented in the three upcoming public hearings. In addition to the scale down, council members directed staff to smooth out the proposed annexation lines as to not cut properties in half.
The public hearings are scheduled for Oct. 16, Oct. 23, and Nov. 6. The Oct. 16 and Nov. 6 will be held at Mesquite City Hall, 757 North Galloway Avenue, and the Oct. 23 meeting will be held in the Forney area at a time and place to be determined, according to the city secretary’s office.
Richard Gertson presenting proposed annexation areas to the Mesquite City Council. Editor's Note: Video will continue playing through to the next agenda item if not manually paused.
Members of the public addressed the Mesquite City Council on Monday night.
Town Hall meeting held on Saturday, September 30.
