From http://fishers.in.us website: The Town Council in this Hamilton County community sent a letter to residents in the vicinity of Geist Reservoir, formally offering them a proposal for a “cooperative annexation.” The terms of this annexation are significantly more favorable to the residents than the terms of the previously pending annexation ordinances that were withdrawn by Council action in July of 2007.

Town Councilor Stuart Easley noted, “The Fishers Town Council undertook the consideration of annexation of several areas around Geist Lake first and foremost as a means of unifying the community. Because of the growth of Fishers over the last number of years, many neighborhoods that had developed earlier became contiguous to the Town, or, in some cases, surrounded by the Town and are benefiting in some measure from Town services now without paying for them. At the same time, current Town residents are being asked to provide roads, parks, public safety and other governmental services that are frequently utilized by non-residents.” Easley continued, “Unifying the Town levels this playing field for all area residents and at the same time permits the Town to provide high quality public safety and other Town services to the areas targeted for annexation without concern for fairness or equity.”

The letter that is being sent to property owners in 22 Geist-area subdivisions follows a series of meetings hosted for each subdivision by members of the Fishers Town Council and Town staff. During the meetings, the Town provided examples of how the proposed annexation would impact the Geist-area residents. The Town also explained why Fishers would be a great community for the residents to join. In turn, the residents were provided with a forum to state their concerns about the impact of the annexation. The meetings produced “varied results,” according to Town Manager Gary Huff.

“Some meetings were well attended and others were not,” noted Huff. According to Huff, “Even those that were well attended in many instances were dominated by opponents of annexation who made clear they were not interested in any form of a deal if it involved annexation.” Town attorney Doug Church also noted, “These discussions were intended as a good faith gesture to bring our community together, to invite dialogue and to avoid the needless expense of a protracted trial court proceeding. There are some residents who appear interested in working with the Town.”

As part of each meeting, the Town put forth a proposal for a cooperative annexation, which, according to Town Manager Huff, was “intended to strike an appropriate balance between limiting some of the immediate effects of the annexation on the Geist residents, while reinforcing the Town’s commitment to serve the long-term best interests of the Town’s residents.”

The proposal was in two parts. First, the Town would delay the effective date of the annexation to December 31, 2008. Second, the Town would offer each property owner the maximum tax abatement of property taxes for Town services available under Indiana law, which would delay any tax increase as a result of the annexation until, at the earliest, May of 2010. Moreover, the property owners would not pay the full Town tax rate until May of 2013, and each owner of property in Fall Creek Township whose property would be annexed would also realize a decrease in his or her overall township rate.

The Town Council also indicated a willingness to work with each subdivision to resolve purely local issues of unique interest to them. By way of example, the Town Council has already entered into agreements to provide sanitary systems to two sub-divisions that are currently on septic systems. Council officials said they will continue discussions with neighborhood associations and are interested in future interaction with individuals who still may have questions or comments. However, there is limit to the Town’s willingness to work with the Geist residents. The letter asks that inquiries be made to the Town by September 21, 2007.

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