City to enforce pre-annexation agreements

It has always been the informal policy of the City of Sundance to require pre-annexation agreements with subdivisions and property owners outside the limits of town who would like to hook on to the city water system. So said Mayor Paul Brooks at last week’s meeting of the council as he asked for a motion to make this policy official.

“We’ve never annexed them, even though we have many of them out there, but I think it’s one of those things that’s just good business,” said Brooks.

City Attorney Mark Hughes pointed out that there have been a few exceptions to this informal rule, but agreed that it has generally been the case.

There are at least three developments currently underway that are likely to want city water, said the mayor. He listed the new Kaski subdivision and the Plains Towing building under construction near the highway as examples and suggested the city may be “inundated” with requests in the future.

“I would like to revise that [agreement] a little bit because there are some things in it that are sort of out of date,” said Hughes. However, he said, the agreement is still enforceable and can still be used.

The council passed a motion to update the agreement and make pre-annexation a condition of tying on to the water system moving forward.