Title
REQUEST BY MINNEHA TOWNSHIP TO CHANGE ITS BOUNDARIES.
Presented by: Robert W. Parnacott, Assistant County Counselor.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Consider request.
Body
The Woodlawn Heights Addition, Eastborough, Kansas, platted in 1923, was originally part of Wichita Township. Eastborough, as a city of the third class, is considered part of the township where it is located. The part of Eastborough east of Woodlawn is part of Minneha Township.
The Wichita Township was disorganized by order of the Board in 1963.Under state law at the time, when disorganizing a township, the Board had the authority to attach any remaining area from the disorganized township to other existing nearby townships. Although most of the remaining area of Wichita Township was attached to other townships by the Board, the Addition does not appear to have been officially attached to any existing township.
However election precinct maps and tax records show that over the years, the Addition has been considered part of the Minneha Township. Minneha also has provided street sweeping and storm debris removal services to the Addition under an agreement with the City of Eastborough.
In reviewing tax unit boundaries in 2014, the Clerk determined that because the Addition had never been officially attached to Minneha Township, the Clerk could not certify the Addition as part of the Minneha Township tax unit boundary. After Minneha was notified of this, the Trustee requested the County Commission formally attach the Addition to the Minneha Township.
The Board, under K.S.A. 19-212 Seventh has the authority, at any meeting, to change the boundaries of any township in Sedgwick County. There is no formal process required, nor any specific notice requirements. However, the Township, City and each individual landowner in the Addition were notified by letter in January that the Board would consider the request of the Township to attach the Addition to the Township at the February 18, 2015, board meeting.
Alternatives: 1) Approve the draft resolution and attach Woodlawn Heights Addition, including adjoining right of way, to Minneha Township
2) Deny the request
3) Take any other action deemed appropriate
Financial Considerations: None for the County. If the Addition is attached to Minneha Township, that part of the township budget other than the road levy will be levied against the properties in the Addition, as well as all other properties located in Minneha Township. If the Addition is not attached, the Township will not levy any taxes against properties in the Addition, and its budget will be spread across the other properties located in Minneha Township, including that part of Eastborough officially within Minneha Township.
Legal Considerations: K.S.A. 19-212 Seventh authorizes the Board to take this action.
Policy Considerations: If the Addition is attached to Minneha Township, registered electors in the Addition will be eligible to vote in Township elections. If the Addition is not attached to Minneha Township, the Addition will remain part of Eastborough, but will not be part of any township. There does not appear to be any other property in Sedgwick County that is within a city of the third class, but not attached to a township.
Outside Attendees: Representatives of Minneha Township, City of Eastborough and possibly residents of the Addition.
Multimedia Presentation: Map and chart.