SILVER LAKE - The long-anticipated annexation of residences around the lake area began Thursday with approval of an annexation petition and adoption of a fiscal plan pertaining to the petition.

About 247 properties will be annexed next year, doubling the size of the town. The homes extend around Silver Lake to the end of Roosevelt and Edgewater streets and along Neher Road to the west.

Residents within the affected area will be notified by Jan. 5, according to town council members Donna McCune, Gail Owens and Brenda Wadkins. A public hearing was set for March 15 at 7 p.m. in the town hall.

The meeting location is subject to change as the town hall may not hold all interested parties.

Within a year of the proposed annexation, non-capital services will be provided to the area. These services include police protection, snow removal and trash removal.

Capital services to be provided within three years include street construction, street lighting, sewer facilities, water facilities and storm drainage facilities. The town already provides sanitary sewer service and water utilities.

An invoice presented by town attorney Mike Reed was grudgingly accepted in the amount of $750, regarding an out-of-court settlement. The charges were for letters written and phone calls made and received.

The board wrote off two outstanding sewer bills for properties recently sold. The realtors in both cases, Century 21 for the Harman property bill and ReMax for the Eherenman bill, neglected to consult with the town regarding the arrearages.

Town superintendent Phil Shalley was given a written reprimand for a recent driving-while-intoxicated charge while on call for the town.

The December regular meeting date was changed to Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. because of a conflict in schedules. [[In-content Ad]]