Springville Fire Chief Richard Harvey and Mayor William Isley gave updates on Springville’s plans to invite some non-residents into city limits. This, according to Harvey and Isley, is an effort to promote public safety and fill in gaps throughout the city of Springville.

 

Harvey called Springville a “very fragmented town.”  The city has identified approximately 100 parcels of land that are completely surrounded by or at least on three sides by annexed properties.  These gaps are the result of a flurry of annexations that occurred between 1990 and 2005. These gaps cause problems for both residents and non-residents of the city in regards to public safety, building, zoning and animal control issues. These problems are rising because so many non-residents are close to Springville but have no jurisdiction.

 

It is the goal of the city to educate those residents who live in these areas about actual property tax increases, zoning requirements and services available to them.  By providing this information they also hope to eliminate any myths and assure non-residents that this is an action to increase their safety and make Springville more holistic.

 

According to Harvey, several of the original property owners have sold their properties, and the new owners may not even realize that they are not in the city. And for them, this annexation is something that could prove very beneficial in the future.

 

“We just want to contact these folks, and see if there is an interest,” said Harvey. If there is an interest from non-residents in these gaps, Harvey and Isley agreed that they would be happy to welcome those people into the city of Springville.