I received the following in an e-mail from Kevin Evans, a resident of Stilwell, KS, who expresses his opposition to the proposed annexation by Overland Park of land south of 159th Street. The letter is a reply to Jim Hix, City Councilmember in Ward 5, Overland Park, KS, who recently distributed his update on Ward 5 news. There will be a City Council meeting this Monday, January 7, at which the Overland Park City Council will vote on the subject. My own views on annexation are contained in a previously published editorial.

If you have views, either pro or con, on annexation, please feel free to send them to annexation@nbrhd.net. They will automatically be directed to the Johnson County Commissioners, who make the final decision on this; the Overland Park City Council, the Johnson County Commissioners, who make the final decision this; Roger Kroh, County Director of Planning; and NeighborhoodNet (I will publish letters only with permission of the author.)

"Mr. Hix,

Thank you for the notice and thanks for your support on the WalMart issue. I have been kept up to date on the annexation issue since I moved to the area over 4 years ago. I understand that after the failed Stilwell city petition that there was going to be a moratorium on annexation. Then I find out that there is a committee/task force to study the issue. What I saw as a deliverable from the task force was 2 plans for annexation. The plan outlined below is the Overland Park view. I do not see any compromise from OP regarding the Stilwell / Aubry Township point of view.

I am against any additional annexation of Aubry Township by Overland Park. As with the WalMart issue I see OP continuing to grow South and eat up agriculture land and green space with high-density housing and commercial development. There comes a time when we have to stand up to the increased development. I don't pay OP taxes and do not live in the desired area (at this time), but I have a hard time believing that OP has the tax base to expand further South and to take care of the existing residents and development. This increased development will also make the CARNP plan happen, which the Aubry Township spoke out against. I spoke against the first annexation plan and will do so again this time. I may not be able to attend the OP meeting, but I will attend the County meeting. The residents of Aubry Township do not have adequate representation on this issue as our representative resides in Overland Park, so hopefully you can see the point of view of the Aubry residents and curb the annexation plans of Overland Park. I am aware that there will eventually be annexation, but the annexation should not divide Aubry Township nor take over half the real estate.

There have been a few issues concerning Aubry Township recently, such as the CARNP plan and the Stilwell city petition that have gone in favor of Overland Park. I would like to see a City Council member or County Commissioner stand up against sprawl and for conserving the rural areas.

Regards,

Kevin Evans
Stilwell, KS 66085"