ENM Council moves forward with development

A proposed housing development took another step forward as the Elko New Market City Council unanimously approved four items concerning annexation of property from New Market Township into the city. The council’s actions came during its Thursday, July 14, meeting.

The property being annexed is approximately 50 acres, is on the south east side of the city near Boulder Pointe Golf Club. It is for a housing development, Boulder Heights, which is being proposed by Warren Isrealson under KKJ Walk, Inc. As part of the agreement with the township the city has to upgrade a portion of 275th Street, which is south of the golf course and east of Scott County Highway 91. There is currently no one living on the 50 acres that will be annexed into the city. It was noted that discussions on the annexation agreement between the city, the township and the developer, KKJ Walk, Inc., took about a year. Mayor Bob Crawford asked if there was any questions from the council.

“I can’t think of any questions that haven’t been asked over this long, long process,” said council member Joe Julius. He praised the work done by city staff and the township board, adding the work will help in their goal of crafting a master annexation program since more annexations are likely going to be coming.

He did ask about a fee since there is taxpayer money involved. Mayor Crawford replied that was a reimbursement to the township for an engineering fee for a survey of 275th Street.

Crawford felt the process had worked out well and that in the long term it would be good for the community.

The four items that were approved were:

• Pre-development agreement annexation

• Joint resolution for orderly annexation

• Joint powers agreement

• Amendment to memorandum of understanding

The next step is for the documents to be sent to the state, where they were likely to be approved. That process usually take 30 days. It was hoped that work on the housing development could begin later this year. 

Change the city’s name The council held a discussion about whether the city should look into changing its name. The city’s current name came about when the communities of Elko and New Market merged. The city councils decided that the combined city may decide on a name change at a later time.

In March of this year, the city contracted with.....

To see more on this story pick up the July 21, 2016 print edition of The New Prague Times. 

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