The Coweta City Council on Aug. 4 approved Ordinance 905 to begin annexation procedures for land generally south of East 101st Street, north of East 106th Street, east of 264th East Avenue and west of 273rd East Avenue, and bordering State Highway 351. The council also approved the ordinance's emergency clause.

City Manager Julie Casteen and Community Development Director Carolyn Back led the discussion and held a public hearing during the meeting. The hearing drew comments from residents concerned about whether their properties were part of a public trust, and about how annexation would change services and addresses.

The ordinance initiates the statutory annexation process and directs required notifications and administrative steps. During the hearing, resident Larry Casillas said he believed his property was part of a public trust and asked what changes annexation would bring for his property. Patrick Boulden replied that it sounded as though the property was part of a private trust and would not prevent the city from moving forward with annexation. Back said emergency medical services and fire coverage already extend into the area and that police did not foresee issues with the annexation. Back also said some homes in the area remain on septic systems and do not currently require city sanitary sewer; E-911 addresses may change.

City Manager Casteen told attendees that police, code enforcement and animal control services would be available within the annexed area and that franchise taxes might change while other taxes would likely remain largely the same.

Motion and vote records show the council entered the public hearing at 7:09 p.m., closed it at 7:20 p.m., then voted to approve Ordinance 905 and the emergency clause. The motions passed with unanimous votes.

The ordinance’s adoption starts the formal process; next steps include the notifications and administrative actions identified in the ordinance and by city staff.