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Commissioners give consensus to explore island annexation to let cities control highway signs
Summary
County staff told commissioners that cities asked about annexing small parcels under roadside signs so the cities could approve changes; the board gave a consensus to let cities pursue voluntary annexations and letter outreach to landowners.
County planning staff told commissioners that several cities want the option to make changes to roadside signage along state highways, but Kansas Department of Transportation rules require the sign to be within a city’s territorial or zoning jurisdiction to allow changes.
John Kinsey, planning, zoning and environmental administrator, explained cities are considering island annexations — small, voluntary annexations of the footprint around each sign — so the signs would fall under municipal jurisdiction. Kinsey said the approach would require survey work and negotiation with each property owner; the property owner would retain title unless they choose to transfer it to the city. He noted the county has seen similar island annexations in other jurisdictions and that the annexation process includes notification and a formal acceptance process by the city and notification to the county.
Commissioners asked about precedent, tax implications and whether a sign could be returned to county jurisdiction; Kinsey said annexations can be vacated or reversed in the future and that taxes or fiscal effects would likely be minimal given the small footprints. The board agreed by consensus to let the cities pursue the annexation discussions and asked staff to send a letter advising cities they have the county’s permission to explore the process with property owners.
No formal annexation was adopted at the meeting; Kinsey said any voluntary annexation would later be formally presented to the county and that the city would need to notify and negotiate with affected landowners and submit a legal description for county approval if it moves forward.
