Responding to the Dec. 1 story “Green Meadows annexation fuels fears — County council tells anxious residents there’s little it can do to stop Vancouver,” something is wrong with the deputy prosecuting attorney’s statement that residents already agreed to annexation. The story said that Dave Socolofsky, a resident of the area, said that the signatures were from residents who were required to sign a statement agreeing to a future annexation by the city of Vancouver in order to receive utility services. It did not say what alternatives residents had if they chose to not sign up for the utility service or agree to annexation.
The residents pay for the utility services, but the story did not explain what services are provided. If they pay for services, why did they purportedly have to sign over their rights on annexation?
Reading this story, one might smell a rat. It is unlikely that the citizens can get relief or assurances through the political process. After all, it appears to be a done deal.
The property owners should consider legal action challenging the validity of the annexation signatures claiming coercion. This would force it to back into the political process.
