Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Annexation Issue Placed On Nov. 3 Ballot

A special called meeting of the Emmet City Council got extremely loud Wednesday, Sept. 2.

The meeting was called so the council could pass an ordinance to put the annexation issue on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot.

Three members of the council showed, Jack Faulkner, Wayne Baker and Stan Jernigan, with more than a dozen concerned citizens also on hand.

Emmet Mayor Ottis "Chuck" Otwell read the proposed ordinance which stated the land in question would be zoned residential/agriculture so people can keep their livestock without problem.

Members of the audience examined a map of the proposed area for annexation, with several commenting negatively on it.

While the audience looked at the map and discussing how they would be affected by the annexation, the council went through the required three readings of the ordinance, passing the issue unanimously.

The other item on the agenda discussed by the council was bids for air conditioning at the Chuck Wagon.

The council agreed to go with the low bidder, Red River Heating and Air, to have a 5 ton unit installed for $6,748.09. The other bid received was from Hollis Heat and Air for $8,149.

Otwell said the unit can be installed in about a week and Red River has a portable system the city can use if needed in the meantime.

Once the meeting was adjourned, members of the audience talked about the annexation with the mayor and council.

James Osborne, Emmet's constable, asked why people weren't informed of the meeting earlier. He learned of the meeting through the grapevine, he told those present, saying the council was also as crooked as a grapevine.

From there it was downhill as everyone tried to speak at once.

Robert Esada also called the council members crooks, while many called them "yes" men and accused them of not representing the city.

Faulkner said the council does what it thinks is best for the city of Emmet, inviting others to run for office if they believed they could do a better job.

Noise in the small room became a din as those present attempted to talk over one another, while the possibility of physical violence grew with each shout. Fortunately, though, the audience and council calmed down somewhat and no fights ensued.

Under terms of the ordinance, the city, upon the passage of the annexation, shall provide water, sewer and electrical services to all residing in the annexed area within three years of the passage of the ordinance.

Should the annexation be approved by the voters, will immediately be entitled to all police, fire and other non-utility services accorded to those currently living within the city limits of Emmet.

For voting purposes, the annexed area will be placed in ward 1 for all future elections, effective with the passage of the ordinance. This means those registered voters in the area to be annexed will be allowed to vote on the measure in the General Election Nov. 3, as will all other city residents who are registered voters.

If the majority of voters cast their ballots in favor of the annexation, the area will be included within the corporate limits of Emmet within 30 days following the date of the recording and filing of the map and description of the annexed area by the Nevada County Clerk as required by law.

Osborne later said those who will be affected by the annexation don't want to be inside the city limits as the City of Emmet has nothing to offer them.

"They (the city council) tried to pull this (the meeting) behind our back," he said. "They didn't let anyone know about the meeting but the council.

"They're going about this (annexation) the wrong way. They aren't asking the people on the highway about it and they can't keep us from having water."

According to Osborne, the water lines to those homes outside the city limits were originally purchased by a private individual who gave them to the city to maintain.

He said those who oppose the annexation issue are working as hard as they can to get the measure defeated.