Four individuals residing outside the city boundaries of Warsaw have requested voluntary annexation into the city limits.

The Warsaw Common Council heard the proposal as presented by Warsaw City Planner Jeremy Skinner during its meeting Monday afternoon. The annexation request involves 41 acres including three residential properties and approximately 37 acres of undeveloped land.

The petitioners seeking annexation are Mr. Jaynes, Mr. Beeler, Mr. Zentz and the executives of the Mitchell Trust. The property will be able to receive city sewer, water and additional utilities with the extension of infrastructure to the undeveloped areas. Skinner stated the property lies just west of Shadow Lakes, which is not part of the city limits. 

Skinner noted the proposed annexation would allow for more than 30 acres to be used by the city for residential development in the future.

“We will certainly go through the process, which will give you guys an opportunity to go through everything, and then we will approve or deny them. This is kind of cut or dry, the acres they are proposing to annex in is for proposed residential development, which will certainly come before the planning commission at a later day and there wont be a whole lot of cost to the city as most of the cost would be born by the developers,” stated Skinner.

Skinner explained that at this time, the petitions are simply starting the annexation process. No voting or further action was taken during the meeting, however, Skinner did say he would be working with the petitioners to put the necessary resolutions and ordinances together to proceed with the annexation process over the next few weeks. That process will include a public hearing, which will be advertised in the future.

Monday’s meeting, which was rescheduled to 4 p.m. due to a midnight deadline for the 1782 state budget approval, also involved the council approving the 2014 budget. According to Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, the council proposed a rate of $1.19, which is only a couple of pennies above last year’s rate.

In a final order of business, it was noted leaf pickup will come to an end on Friday. This will be the last week that Warsaw residents will be able to have unbagged leaves picked up by the city with their trash. After this week, the council reminds citizens may package their leaves in trash bags, paper bags and boxes for pick up.