Sandra Thomas Greenwood

We live in the great land of America, and Genola, Utah, is part of America where officials are elected to represent the people and those people have the right to vote.

A few weeks ago the Genola City Planning Commission voted not to recommend the proposed annexation of 1,000 acres into their city. Their decision was based on a long-term study of issues. This motion pleased the large majority of residents who are in opposition to the proposed annexation. These same citizens had expressed their feelings in meetings, and had even filed a signature petition with Utah County. A week after the Planning Commission vote, the Mayor showed wisdom in the final decision process by granting town residents a vote on this critical issue, which would affect them forever.

In America, under the First Amendment, each of us is free to have opinions and judge what we feel a responsible leader should be and form opinions on how citizens living in rural towns should run their town.

There have been some that have questioned the action of the mayor for trying to represent the citizens in a fair manner rather than immediately jumping to requests from rich developers. There are others who, though not residents of Genola, feel it their responsibility to question why the residents wouldn't cheer at the possibility of annexing 1,000 more acres and to strongly advise them to annex with open arms.

Neighboring cities all around us have all been approached by big developers with requests to annex them in, and those cities declined. Lehi did not annex Saratoga Springs, Pleasant Grove didn't annex Cedar Hills, and the list goes on. These cities refused to annex because they knew annexation of additional land size and population density would have greatly impacted their towns' budgets, resources, problems and responsibilities.

Opinions are being voiced that in order to have significant control of growth, a town should annex areas near their borders. With this thought process, perhaps Genola should feel the need to annex neighboring Santaquin or West Mountain into its town boundary because of their continued growthfi The idea is preposterous.

If the annexation is denied then, yes, Genola will have little to say in how the newly developed area will be run, and we would be thankful for that. The development will not be part of Genola. Genola will not be responsible for any part of it legally, financially or otherwise at any time now or in the future.

Genola has 8,448 acres of land within its boundaries (twice the size of Payson). With developers planing to almost double the population and increase town size by an additional 1,000 acres, the impact of this proposed annexation would be staggering to Genola. Our town has no commercial tax base, not even one store. With limited funds for yearly budget, the town struggles to provide basic services to its current residents.

Example: Other than a volunteer fire department, we rely on and contract with existing Santaquin for all 911, ambulance and police protection because we cannot afford our own services.

Genola has no legal obligation to grant this annexation now or in the future. Former mayors and councils turned down other requests for annexations to the town in the past. This request can also be denied.

The residents of Genola do not want to be used by Mt. Shores Development simply as a means to expedite their financial investments. By annexing into the incorporated town of Genola, with an R1 zone, the developers immediately save time and make money. Taking this route, developers need not petition the county for development to become a town, there is no waiting period, and no restricted County RA5 zone ordinance. The promise of quick short-term money doesn't outweigh the long-term financial burdens our town would incur forever, year after year, if they annex this area.

Growth is going on within the current boundaries of Genola as new homes are being built and new families move in. Growth will continue and with wise planning our town's agricultural-based heritage will be preserved. Genola's residents care about their town's future and it does not include plans for urban sprawl.

Sandra Thomas Greenwood is a resident of Genola.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A6.