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Council moves Stevens Hill annexation toward public hearing amid utility costs and owner concerns
Summary
Staff told council that annexing Stevens Hill west of the airport would cost Spanish Fork about $238,000 to acquire SESD power infrastructure; excluding a few holdout parcels could force duplicate infrastructure and add roughly $250,000. Council directed staff to take the annexation to Planning Commission and a council public hearing so affected landowners can comment.
City planning staff briefed the council on the Stevens Hill annexation, an area west of the Spanish Fork airport where most landowners have petitioned to join the city but several parcels have not indicated support. Staff said switching customers from Strawberry Electric Service District (SESD) to Spanish Fork City power would obligate a $238,000 payment that typically buys poles, wires and meters to transfer service. If a subset of parcels is left out of the annexation, the city could face the cost of building redundant infrastructure to serve annexed parcels, potentially adding about $250,000 in expense.
Applicant representatives and staff said they have contacted affected owners multiple times; a few remain opposed or passive. Council expressed an appetite to proceed with the process—bringing the proposal to Planning Commission and scheduling a council public hearing—so that owners can testify and the council can weigh whether to require inclusion of the smaller parcels. Staff recommended against approving a partial annexation that leaves SESD infrastructure in place and requires duplicate city infrastructure.
Council directed staff to proceed to the Planning Commission (targeted first Wednesday in February) and to schedule a council public hearing at the second February meeting; staff will notify affected property owners and be available to answer questions in advance of the hearings.
