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Show intimidation charged in annexation fight By PAUL CHALUS News Editor r ' BOUNTIFUL Hie question of whether to annex the Val Verda area to Bountiful continues to heat vm, with foes sparring with each jer with charges of intimidation. fcen LeFevre and Gordon Hopkins, proponents of annexation, have accused the other side of using intimidation tactics to get residents to remove their names from the petition. "Many residents have worked hard for this timely cause,' LeFevre said. "Prior attempts at annexation have been thwarted by the aggressive tactics of those opposed to annexation. This time residents supporting annexation should stand firm and not be in timidated by the opposition." Opponents, however, claim they are not intimidating anyone or be- ing aggressive; they just want to educate the people. "The people have a right to choose," Vernal Thompson said. LeFevre charges that one of the leaders of the opposition doesn't even live in the proposed annexation annexa-tion area. "It should be pointed out that the primary opponent of the annexation effort, Ellsworth Jensen, resides at 3139 Crestwood Circle, outside the area seeking annexation. Jensen has mounted a drive to encourage those who have already signed the petition peti-tion to have their names removed," LeFevre charges. Jensen admits he doesn't live in the part of Val Verda currently being be-ing petitioned for incorporation but lives in the next target area south of Orchard Drive in unincorporated Davis County. "I have a lot at stake if the annexation an-nexation process continues south of the Val Verda area," he said. The petition for the annexation drive started in February with about 325 of the 584 homeowners in the unincorporated area of Val Verda near North Salt Lake and bordered by Bountiful on three sides. Proponents claim to have higher than the required 50 percent by state law. They hope to get 65 percent before the matter comes before the City Council. An attempt for annexation five years ago had many of the same players involved and incorporation failed. Both unincorporated areas of Davis County were part of the failed fail-ed petition. Proponents claim that because SEE ANNEX ON A-3 Annex CONTINUED FROM A-l the unincorporated Val Verda area does not have a commercial tax base, it cannot survive in the long term as an independent community. "The rest of Davis County cannot continue forever to subsidize services for our area," LeFevre said. "Annexation into Bountiful City will enable us to become part of a viable community with a commercial com-mercial tax base and provide residents the assurance that their local government services will be provided efficiently and cost-effective cost-effective in the future." LeFevre's group say residents have missed out on benefits including in-cluding lower power rates, street lighting, cleaner and cheaper garbage gar-bage service, and increased fire and police protection. The opposition counters almost every claim by the pro-annexation group. "The areas property taxes will increase if it becomes part of Bountiful," Boun-tiful," Thompson said. "Residents will have to pay extra for electricity, natural gas and telephone service." "We don't have enough signature right now to overturn the petition, Thompson said. ' 'Our efforts are progressing and it's possible we'll get enough to suppress sup-press it." A public hearing has been scheduled by Bountiful City for April 8, during the regular council meeting. |