A public hearing scheduled for later this month on a proposed annexation of property around Meeker has been canceled for the third time.
This time it’s been canceled because the Trustees’ legal counsel James Hodgens reportedly is battling COVID-19 and hasn’t been able to send out the required notification to property owners or place the legal notice in the newspaper.
Meeker Vice Mayor Donna Weber confirmed the public hearing set for 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23, has been canceled.
“I posted on our website that it was canceled and the Town of Board of Trustees will take up the issue at our meeting on Monday, Aug. 16.”
Town Administrator Dickie Walton said that it will be on the agenda.
“It will be put on the agenda for discussion,” Weber said.
“It’s to be determined,” she added, when asked about a future date.
Weber further stated, “It’s been the attorney’s fault every time.”
Weber was asked about what she has been hearing from constituents on the annexation issue. “The few that have called me have said they understand, they are informed and sooner or later it will be held and our questions will be answered.”
She noted, “I haven’t received any negative responses,” adding, “not that there might not be some.”
Walton said, “I’ve only talked to one person who is totally against it. Another man came in today and after I explained it, he’s all for it.”
Walton said the man is a property owner whose land backs up to the dam.
“The majority of the people I’ve visited with are all for it,” he thinks.
During their meeting on July 19, the Trustees unanimously agreed to hold the hearing at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23 at the Meeker Town Hall.
In their meeting in June, they had set the public hearing for 6 p.m. July 26.
In the July meeting, Hodgens took full responsibility for not getting notices out to the property owners and providing the legal notice that is required to be published.
“It’s my fault,” he told the board.
“Pick a date and I’ll get it out,” he further advised them.
Weber asked him then, “you promise”? Hodgens replied, “yes.”
She had stated just before that exchange, “This isn’t going to be good. We’re going to hear about it.”
During their meeting in May, the Trustees had set the public hearing for 6:30 p.m. on June 28.
Walton has said proposal is to annex eight square miles around the Meeker Lake area.
The annexation would include all of Section 19, part of Section 20, all of Sections 23, 24, 25, 26, 31, 35, 36 and part of 32.
Town officials said there are approximately 348 property owners within the boundaries of the proposed annexation.
Hodgens has explained each one of those property owners has to be notified of the public hearing within a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 30 days of the public hearing.