Elected officials supporting a Maggie Valley annexation proposal will have to proceed against a strong swell of public opposition.

The first public informational meeting held last week in the small Haywood County town provided an opportunity for about 70 citizens who live in the proposed annexation area to vent their feelings to town officials. If there were any annexation supporters in the crowd, they kept quiet.

“Let me get this straight,” said Chip Eifler. “We don’t get garbage, no extra police protection, and no street maintenance, but I am going to be annexed and spend more money on taxes. Your hitting a big zero so far.”

The public meeting was led by Planner Richard Flowe, who works for Benchmark Inc., the company consulting the town as it goes through the annexation. The town has proposed to annex two areas totaling 183 acres which will add 464 residents and 209 dwellings to the town and increase its tax base by $14.5 million.

Flowe explained that town leaders have “assumed general opposition” to the annexation.
“Hopefully, when all the emotion passes - if annexation passes - you will see annexation as a lot better deal than you do now,” Flowe said.

But those attending last week’s meeting were unconvinced. Maggie Valley has a relatively low tax rate of 40 cents per $100 of valuation, but it also does not provide the kind of routine services common in most towns — garbage pickup, fire protection, water and sewer service and street maintenance. Street maintenance is uncommon in the town because many of the town’s streets don’t meet minimum standards through which the town could receive state Powell Bill funds. Garbage, fire protection, and water and sewer are all provided by entities other than the town, though the Maggie Valley Sanitation District does work closely with the town to provide water and sewer service.

Flowe said the town is discussing two new incentives that might make annexation more palatable to those in the proposed areas: it is discussing standards by which it will take over what are now considered substandard streets, and it is willing to take over septic service for residents in the newly annexed areas until sewer service is available.

Mayor Pro tem Roger McElroy said town officials want to address the issues brought up by those opposed to annexation, but he was still in favor of the annexation plan.

“If we address the concerns, maybe they will see the benefits and not be totally opposed,” McElroy said. “I’m in favor of the annexation. I think it will be beneficial in the long term for the people involved.”

The town is planning an official public hearing on the annexation proposal on April 17 at town hall at 7:30 p.m.

 

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