Annexation

By Henry Burtschi

Before a commitment is made to annex 8300 + Acres a study and a well thoughtout policiy needs to be in place.

1.) WILL THE FAST-GROWING CITY OF OAKDALE NEED SOME SURFACE WATER IN THE NEAR FUTURE?. The only source possible would be from OID should we have eventually a ground water over draft.
2.) ARE THE PRESENT WATER USERS WILLING TO ACCEPT LESS WATER IN A DRY YEAR AND SHARE THE LIMITED AMOUNT AVAILABLE WITH 8300 NEW ACRES?
3.) ARE THEY ALSO WILLING TO SPLIT THE FUTURE POWER- AND TRANSFER INCOMES EQUALLY WITH THE NEW ACRES, KEEPING IN MIND THAT THESE REVENUES COVER APPR. 50% OF TODAY'S OPERATION EXPENSES? Annexation will raise operation and maintenance costs, but outside revenues will not change.
4.) SHOULD THIS FAR REACHING DECISION BE DECIDED BY THE BOARD ALONE OR SHOULD THE CONSTITUANTS HAVE TO VOTE ON IT? After all, 99 % of the irrigators would have to give up enough water in a dry year to cover the annexed 8300 acres of the new owners (1 % ) The same would hold true for sharing the outside income on a per acre basis.

Keep in mind that the 35 applications from these land owners and land speculators average over 230 acres each. Irrigation will raise their land value at least 4 fold and double again if they split later into 40 acre parcels.

Today and for a long time ago, these landowners have an ALTERNATIVE. Like other landowners who have been doing so for many years. They may contract with OID for "OUT OF DISTRICT WATER" at the low price of $ 33.-- per acre by April 1st. in each year with a normal rainfall (7 out of 10) and supplement with their own wells in dry ones.

These are my personal valid reasons for approaching the annexation question with caution, but my adversaries are using it as the crux for my recall.