For immediate release                                                    Contact information:
October 29, 2007                                                            Lynne Matile
                                                                                     913-897-4030
                                                                                     lynmatile@wildblue.net

Expect standing room only as hundreds of residents vow to have their voices heard in Johnson County

Do you hear the rumbling?  What’s that sound?  It’s hundreds of Johnson County residents who refuse to be railroaded by the city of Overland Park as it attempts to destroy their way of life.

More than 1600 people live in a 15 square mile area in southern Johnson County.  Now, without their approval, Overland Park is trying to bypass the people and go right to the Johnson County Commission for permission to annex the area.

But all these angry residents won’t be ignored.  On Tuesday, October 30 at 7:00 p.m., they will have their say.  The NO TO ANNEXATION COALITION expects its supporters will pack the Johnson County Commission meeting at Blue Valley High School to speak their minds on Overland Park’s plans to gobble up an additional 15 square miles of Johnson County.  The response is expected to be so great that the commission is considering expanding the meeting to a second night to accommodate all those who wish to speak.

Many of the 571 single-family homeowners in the affected area purchased their homes outside of city limits for a reason.  They were seeking something the city didn’t offer: a rural lifestyle with an opportunity for a little bit of greenspace and a chance to have some livestock.  Now Overland Park says these folks will become a part of the city, like it or not, and that they must change their lifestyle to align with city requirements.

The process doesn’t seem fair.  That’s why the coalition is fighting and hoping that Johnson County commissioners listen to those whose lives would be changed and don’t rubber stamp Overland Park’s attempt at the biggest land grab in state history.

We have residents ready to show you how the annexation would negatively affect their lives.  Call us to set up a preview to Tuesday’s meeting.  We look forward to seeing you Tuesday night.

Who:    No To Annexation Coalition
What:    Hundreds of residents expected at JOCO Commission meeting
When:     Tuesday, October 30, 7:00 p.m.
Where:     Blue Valley High School, Performing Arts Center, 6001 West 159th Street, Stilwell
Why:     To oppose Overland Park’s attempt to destroy their way of life by annexing 15
    square miles of rural Johnson County

OP Annexation Facts

•    The proposed annexation is the largest annexation request in KS history.
•    Input was not gathered by OP from residents prior to voting on the annexation petition presented to the county commissioners (they gave one week notice for residents to attend their city council meeting where they voted to petition for annexation).  We’ve had no chance to address environmental, natural resource, transportation, life style, and other issues.
•    MO law requires a vote of residents prior to annexation while KS law relies on discretion of County Commissioners.  They must determine if there is manifest injury to residents.  We think there is manifest injury in several areas.
•    OP projects over 600% growth in the area by 2030.  They state this growth needs to be managed by a city vs. county.  We disagree.
•    OP imposes a $.24/sq. ft. ($10,000/ac.) excise tax on development land which results in high density housing.  This would destroy valuable natural resource areas of the county (Wolf and Coffee creek valleys).
•    Combined property and excise (utility) taxes would increase for residents as shown by OP’s own software; however, OP continues to just say that property taxes will decrease.
•    OP ordinances restrict the life styles of the current rural residents (limit number of pets, don’t allow farm animals, don’t allow hunting, don’t allow burning of pastures, etc.). 
•    “Grandfathered” exceptions to city ordinances in previously annexed areas were not followed as one resident was even jailed for “violations” that were subsequently overturned by the KS Supreme Court.
•    OP does not honor their zoning commitments as demonstrated by the proposed Lowe’s in the Blue Valley Riding subdivision which was designated “transition residential”.
•    OP is abusing their power by telling their police officers to start patrolling the proposed annexation area when they do not have any jurisdiction there.  They have also approved changing Switzer road in the proposed annexation area.

What we’ve done:

In the few weeks we’ve had since receiving the OP petition, we’ve:

•    Gathered over 400 petitions (561 single family homes in the area and 700 property owners) against the annexation and given them to the JO county commissioners.
•    Many residents have sent letters and emails to the commissioners stating their opposition to the proposal.
•    A number of yard signs in opposition to the proposal are up.
•    We’ve established the “NO TO ANNEXATION COALITION” with 20 steering committee members (Lynne Matile, president; Tom Watson, vice president; Norman Pishny, Secretary/Treasurer).
•    The coalition sent a letter with enclosed return postcards to all landowners asking for their “in favor of” or “not in favor of” input.  We will be presenting these cards to the commissioners at their 10/30/2007 meeting (BV HS Performing Arts Center at 7:00 p.m.).
•    Hundreds of opponents to the annexation are expected at the Johnson County Commission meeting to have their voices heard.