Community to weigh in on annexation proposals

Those words may ring true for people who want their voice heard about pending annexation proposals.

A public hearing on Tuesday will involve two competing annexation proposals — one agreement between the city of Ranier and Koochiching County, and a competing proposal from the city of International Falls.

The evidentiary hearing is a continuation from its start last fall. The hearing will reopen at 9 a.m. Tuesday and continue each day thereafter as necessary in the Koochiching County Courthouse.

The public comment portion, when any interested person may offer comment or submit a written statement, will be from 3-5 p.m. and from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday at the courthouse.

The hearing will be before Administrative Law Judge Richard C. Luis of the state Office of Administrative Hearings. The formal parties to the hearing are Ranier, Koochiching County and International Falls.

Written data, statements and comments may be submitted by mail or e-mail to the administrative law judge. All public comment must be postmarked, faxed, e-mailed or delivered by July 16.

Previously collected evidence, including testimony made at the International Falls informational meeting June 3, will become part of the record for the hearing. Luis is expected to make a ruling on both International Falls’ petition to annex the foreign trade zone and Ranier and the county’s agreement for Ranier to annex that area as well as French and Jameson additions and nearby unincorporated areas.

In June 2009, the Ranier City Council approved a plan, which was endorsed a month later by Koochiching County, to annex land around the Ranier city limits.

Falls officials opposed Ranier’s plan to include in its annexation about 500 acres of a foreign trade zone and the property around it where an access road could be built. Falls officials in September petitioned to annex the FTZ property and the land around it into the Falls city limits.

The FTZ is owned jointly by the Falls and Koochiching County and managed by the Koochiching Economic Development Authority.

Through its original orderly annexation petition, Ranier asked that a public hearing be held. However, following a failed mediation session with the city of International Falls to resolve the FTZ issue, Ranier and Koochiching County approved changes to the annexation petition to remove the public hearing all together. That request was denied by Luis, who established the date for Tuesday’s hearing.

One of the main issues prompting the annexation proposal is water service to Ranier residents and non-residents the city serves. Water-line breaks and a deteriorating water system outside the city have been concerns for several years.

Ranier has been awarded a $1.24 million loan and $296,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development to improve its water treatment and distribution system.

The money would be used to replace water lines in French and Jameson additions. Ranier currently serves these areas through its water service, but the areas are not within city limits. Ranier Mayor Ed Oerichbauer previously explained that annexing the unincorporated areas was one way to gain control of the water lines currently outside the Ranier city limits, as well as share the burden of loan repayment among those who will benefit from the water line project. Having jurisdiction over the water lines is a stipulation in securing the USDA funds, although annexation is not the only way to gain that authority.

Also prompting annexation was a 2007 petition signed by more than 100 residents of the additions and other unincorporated areas seeking to be annexed into International Falls. Several residents have expressed concern that the city of International Falls may look to their area for future annexation. Last July, area resident Robert Plasky presented a petition to the county board containing about 130 signatures of residents of the French and Jameson additions seeking annexation into Ranier.

Concerns over the timetable of the proposal, including lack of time to prepare, have been cited by some Ranier residents, as well as transparency and handling of the issue. Some Ranier residents have also questioned what effect the large increase in population would have on their city.

According to the Office of Administrative Hearings, Luis is expected to rule on the competing petitions before Oct. 11.

RANIER ANNEXATION AT A GLANCE

THE ISSUE: Annexation of unincorporated areas near Ranier.

PARTIES: City of Ranier, Koochiching County, city of International Falls.

HEARING: The issue will be decided by Administrative Law Judge Richard C. Luis. Luis will open the hearing Tuesday morning. A public comment opportunity will be offered 3-5 p.m. and 6:30-10 p.m. Tuesday at the Koochiching County Courthouse.

WHY:

• Water lines and service, including a $1.24 million loan and $296,000 grant from the USDA to replace ailing lines; repayment of loan.

• A foreign trade zone, including potential services to it and tax benefits if developed. The zone is owned by the county and International Falls, but water service would likely come from nearby Ranier lines.

• Community identity. Ranier would multiply its current population several times over if annexation is successful. Jameson and French petitioners questioned whether their areas were eyed for incorporation into International Falls and asked the smaller city to annex them instead.