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TESTING THE LIMITS: Completion of annexation to aid in speed dilemma on Ft. Grant Road
By CAROL BROEDER and AINSLEE S. WITTIG/Arizona Range News
The City Council voted unanimously last month to annex the northbound lane of Ft. Grant Road and a portion of Quail Drive.
"The annexation dates back to the late 1960s," said City Manager Gilbert Davidson. "Someone started the annexation process, but never finished it."
The issue re-surfaced recently when Willcox-area resident Ryan Ellis raised questions when the city posted a 35-miles per hour speed limit sign on Ft. Grant Road, just south of Joe Hines Road.
"Ft. Grant Road should be 45 mph between Joe Hines Road and Rip Griffins. The engineering report (done by a state certified professional) suggests that it should be 45 mph. I don't believe the city had any right to change the speed limit because the road was never properly annexed by the city and the new speed limit goes against the engineering report," Ellis said.
The resolution, approved at the Feb. 21 council meeting, states that in 1968, the city "purportedly annexed" Section 36, including all of the portion of Ft. Grant Road lying within it.
The records associated with the annexation cannot be located.
With the resolution, the city is requesting that the county approve the annexation of "that portion of the county road known as Ft. Grant Road, that portion of the county road known as Quail Drive, and said Section 36... upon approval of this resolution from the Cochise County Board of Supervisors."
Davidson told the Arizona Range News that by state law, if the city owns property outside city limits, it falls within the city's jurisdiction.
"All of the entrances to Willcox are 35 mph," said Davidson. "Our goal is to be consistent."
The speed limit on Ft. Grant Road now drops from 55 mph to 35 mph as it enters city limits.
Davidson said the county is set at 55 mph, and the city has no provision for a 45-mph speed limit.
He pointed out that the Business 10 also drops from 55 mph to 35 mph as it approaches city limits. But Ft. Grant has more businesses and traffic in that area, Davidson said.
The city will address the Ft. Grant Road issue "once the annexation is completed," he said.
Davidson has asked Jim Holland, the city attorney, to look into modifying city laws to allow for a speed limit of 45 mph, and then present the change to the council for approval after public hearings.
"We're looking at 45 mph going out of town and 35 mph right before Brewer's," Davidson said.
"We think all of Ft. Grant Road is in (Section) 36. Gilbert (Davidson) couldn't find anything to substantiate the formal conveyance of the south 33 feet of right-of-way," said Cindy Cartwright, senior right-of-way agent with the county. "Every map I've seen shows that section as the city's."
We're happy to work with the city to get it squared away. It's a housekeeping matter that will create a clean paper trail."
Cartwright said the annexation will be presented to the board of supervisors at its meeting on Tuesday, March 15.
"The annexation dates back to the late 1960s," said City Manager Gilbert Davidson. "Someone started the annexation process, but never finished it."
The issue re-surfaced recently when Willcox-area resident Ryan Ellis raised questions when the city posted a 35-miles per hour speed limit sign on Ft. Grant Road, just south of Joe Hines Road.
"Ft. Grant Road should be 45 mph between Joe Hines Road and Rip Griffins. The engineering report (done by a state certified professional) suggests that it should be 45 mph. I don't believe the city had any right to change the speed limit because the road was never properly annexed by the city and the new speed limit goes against the engineering report," Ellis said.
The resolution, approved at the Feb. 21 council meeting, states that in 1968, the city "purportedly annexed" Section 36, including all of the portion of Ft. Grant Road lying within it.
The records associated with the annexation cannot be located.
With the resolution, the city is requesting that the county approve the annexation of "that portion of the county road known as Ft. Grant Road, that portion of the county road known as Quail Drive, and said Section 36... upon approval of this resolution from the Cochise County Board of Supervisors."
Davidson told the Arizona Range News that by state law, if the city owns property outside city limits, it falls within the city's jurisdiction.
"All of the entrances to Willcox are 35 mph," said Davidson. "Our goal is to be consistent."
The speed limit on Ft. Grant Road now drops from 55 mph to 35 mph as it enters city limits.
Davidson said the county is set at 55 mph, and the city has no provision for a 45-mph speed limit.
He pointed out that the Business 10 also drops from 55 mph to 35 mph as it approaches city limits. But Ft. Grant has more businesses and traffic in that area, Davidson said.
The city will address the Ft. Grant Road issue "once the annexation is completed," he said.
Davidson has asked Jim Holland, the city attorney, to look into modifying city laws to allow for a speed limit of 45 mph, and then present the change to the council for approval after public hearings.
"We're looking at 45 mph going out of town and 35 mph right before Brewer's," Davidson said.
"We think all of Ft. Grant Road is in (Section) 36. Gilbert (Davidson) couldn't find anything to substantiate the formal conveyance of the south 33 feet of right-of-way," said Cindy Cartwright, senior right-of-way agent with the county. "Every map I've seen shows that section as the city's."
We're happy to work with the city to get it squared away. It's a housekeeping matter that will create a clean paper trail."
Cartwright said the annexation will be presented to the board of supervisors at its meeting on Tuesday, March 15.
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