West Des Moines delays annexation vote after residents raise concerns about scope, services and binding signatures

The West Des Moines City Council on Monday continued a public hearing and action on a proposed voluntary annexation covering parcels around Mill Civic Parkway and Rockwood Lane to its Oct. 20 meeting after residents raised questions about whether property-owner signatures were still binding and about what services would follow annexation. The continuation came after several residents said they had signed earlier applications under different terms and that some property owners now oppose annexation. Ryan Moffat, the city’s community and economic development director, told the council, “we wouldn't bring this forward if we didn't think that we had 80% support to proceed with that annexation.” The council voted 5-0 to continue the hearing to Oct. 20 to allow staff to verify current support and follow up with property owners. Why this matters: annexation would change which government provides water, police,…