YOU MAY HAVE BEEN WONDERING...

On Thursday, January 5, 2017, the Planning Commission and the Town Board will have a special joint meeting with the Township Attorney and Sherri Buss of TKDA, the Township's planning and engineering firm.

At an earlier Board meeting, following the airport's request to be annexed by Lakeville coming to light, the Board tasked the Commission with looking into the different options open to the Township in response. The Commission asked for and the Board intended that this study be undertaken with professional assistance. The group examined Joint Powers Agreements (JPA), incorporation, orderly annexation, and zoning strategies to discourage annexation in the future. (Some of these zoning strategies have been discussed during the Commercial/Industrial Study as well.)

The special meeting was set up by the Planning Commission to share its findings in person with the Board (always better than just reading reports) and to provide a timely venue for any additional questions that might be asked and recommendations to be made. It is the Commission's intention that the Board act at its January meeting to proceed with the short-term possible solution, that is, a JPA, before the Board changes composition.

When Supervisors Cory Behrendt and Carrie Jennings were designated by the Board as a body to meet with Lakeville officials to discuss this development and did meet with them, a number of things were reported to the Board.



One was that this annexation request is solely on the instigation by the airport, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC). Lakeville simply received the request.
   

Another was that Lakeville has no plans, at least for the immediate future, to annex any part of Eureka. It feels it has "plenty on its plate" right now.
     
     

A third very important one is that Lakeville stated that it would certainly look at any formal proposal for a JPA with Eureka. (This, by the way, is 180 degrees from what had been reported to the Board earlier: "They'll never do that.") Of course, there were "no guarantees" offered, but at least Lakeville indicated it was open to examining the idea. A JPA could be so worded and agreed upon to keep the airport in Eureka, while yet providing for it to receive sewer and water in line with its (MAC's) policy. Lakeville could provide the city services and collect the monies.

   

 It was also noted that it would not take a lot to extend the lines for the airport (stub under runway) and that the airport would not be a high-use customer.

Whether Lakeville would actually be willing to proceed with this effort is uncertain, but it would be a good answer to the airport's concerns and the concerns of Eureka citizens to retain the airport that were expressed at the Annual Meeting in 2016. The Commission agrees, in fact, that a JPA would be an ideal solution to address the immediate issue. Looking at other, much more involved, strategies could still be dealt with down the line.


      Stay Tuned for Further Developments