City annexation bid barely passes following heated debate

Maricopa’s annexation bid barely passed on Wednesday in a special City Council meeting in which the vote had to be taken twice.

Councilman Kelly Haddad was the only City Councilman who consistently voted no on annexation and every related proposed development agreement.

Councilmen Joe Estes and Ed Farrell initially voted no, but changed sides following a lengthy discussion in which residents of the annexation area west of incorporated Maricopa pleaded for a chance to become an official part of the city.

Interim Councilman Dallas Paulsen, Mayor Kelly Anderson and Council members Joe Estes and Will Dunn consistently voted yes.

Vice Mayor Brent Murphree was not present.

“I feel it’s a great night for the city,” said Jerry Keene, one of Maricopa’s newest citizens to be annexed into the fold. “I really do.”

Keene, 74, said he supported annexation with any eye toward the future.

“It’s for the children,” he said. “I’ll be gone in a day or two. It’s great to leave something really great for them. Don’t you?”

The Council, which spent two hours discussing the matter in executive session, debated for another hour and heard comments from the public before coming to an agreement to accept the petition bearing signatures representing 50 percent plus one of the landowners in the annexation area.

Although Haddad, Estes and Farrell each initially voted against the proposal, most of the pressure to change positions was directed at Haddad, who is up for re-election on Tuesday.

Dunn, who is also up for re-election, repeatedly hammered on Haddad for a lack of courage and vision to see the annexation process through to completion. He also asked Farrell to change his vote.

“This is a huge part of the development of our community,” Dunn said. “It gets us up to bordering Goodyear.”

Haddad held firm saying that in today’s economic downturn, his responsibility was to look out for the well-being of existing citizens before taking on additional costs that in the long run would likely eventually bring added prosperity.

“I can’t in good faith agree to any of this,” Haddad said. “We are in an economic downturn. We will be taxing our public safety, we will be taxing our dollars. There will be other opportunites to apply.”

Haddad noted that he was initially among those who supported the expansion, a point Dunn also underlined.

“I believe I have the right to study and change my mind,” Haddad said.

“If you don’t think this this will cost us dearly over the next few years, you are seriously mistaken. Times have changed.”

The area annexed is often considered one of the key locations for future economic development, which was a major point of discussion regarding why those who voted yes, believed taking on the responsibilities of maintenance and providing public safety services were worth the investment.

“This is a very wise investment in preparing for the future,” Dunn said, adding that not annexing the area would leave it in the hands of Pinal County, and tie the hands of city planners to guide its growth.

“I’m not willing to let them cost us in the future,” Dunn said. “The cost of not doing this is greater.”

Keene was among those landowners present who agreed.

“You came to us and we gave you what you wanted,” he said. “Now get some back bone and give us what’s right, boys.”

Mike Burkall, Marion Mahone and Henry Wade also addressed the Council, each in support of growing Maricopa.

In the end, it was Farrell and Estes who changed their votes, to the delight of a handful of vocal landowners who turned out to make sure the annexation passed.

Keene praised them for having the courage to change their minds in the public forum.

Haddad said it also took courage to stand his ground.

“I feel I did the right thing,” he said. “We have a community I feel we need to support and take care of. I can’t take a bet on something I don’t know.”

Photo by RuthAnn Hogue