Controversial Take-Over
March is a month that holds madness for basketball fans, but bigger issues were settled on the first of the month when the annexation of Elkhorn, Neb. was finalized this 2007.
Kristen Casey
In January 2005, Elkhorn kicked off an annexation package that would increase their population to 10,000 residents or more to remove Omaha’s capability to annex the city. This caused Omaha to react with its own annexation package, including the city of Elkhorn. Since Omaha’s annexation package was settled first, Elkhorn took action by filing a lawsuit to stop it in March 2005.
Sense of community can remain
Communications Director for Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey, Joe Gudenrath said, “I believe the citizens of Elkhorn have concerns about losing their identity and the quality of services Omaha provides, but the past annexations of Dundee, South Omaha, and Millard have shown that annexations do not impact the sense of pride and community these Omaha neighbors have preserved throughout the years.”
Patrick Hastings, Account Manager of International Sales for TSL Company, said, “I’m not concerned with the annexation as long as the services, such as the fire department, police department, and road services stay the same or improve. “
Hastings has been a member of Elkhorn for three years now. He has heard that the people of Elkhorn are concerned that the school district will be taken over, but to his knowledge it will stay the same.
Aspects from experience
Business Senior at Creighton University, Michael Carlson, a resident of Fort Worth, Texas, remembers when his residence was to be annexed.
“I was living in Crowley, Texas at the time and remember not wanting to become a part of Fort Worth. We were our own little town, with our own little ways,” Carlson said.
He said it would cause a loss of unity and taxes would be raised. He can relate to the residents of Elkhorn, even though it may be a step in the right direction for Omaha.
With the annexation of Elkhorn, it will protect Omaha’s ability to grow and expand to the west. Mayor Fahey and his office know that change is difficult, but they have been working hard to make sure the transformation continues as smoothly as possible. Up to this point, they have not experienced any major problems.
Final decision necessary for Omaha
“To have been hemmed in without the ability to grow would have been detrimental to the city’s core,” Gudenrath said. “But in regards to services, we promise to deliver the same quality city services enjoyed by the citizens of Omaha.”
Prior to becoming a finalized deal, the case was heard before the Douglas County District Court, the Nebraska Supreme Court and appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear the case. It has been a long two-year ordeal for the citizens of Elkhorn to wait upon since the annexation package was announced, but now they can rest since a final decision has been reached.