Sturgis Annexation Plans Denied
Local News
by
Stephany Beshara
last edited on
Monday, April 27, 2009
Every year the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally brings in millions of dollars to the small Black Hills town. As the Rally expands, so does the actual area where bikers go to hang out.
Recently some city officials proposed annexing land east of town where many new Rally hotspots have popped up, but it may not happen.
With every motorcycle that rolls through downtown Sturgis, the city makes money. Each vendor and shop pays taxes. That's why some city leaders want more land to become part of that money-making machine. They want 3,000 acres east of town to become part of the city.
But Monday the county commission unanimously voted to deny the city's request for that annexation. Meade County Commissioners say they voted against the annexation because there is too much unplatted and agricultural land involved in the proposed site on the east Highway 34 corridor.
Meade County Commissioner Gary Cammack says, "Right now all land owners in the effected area are opposed."
Ross Lamphere is one of those landowners. He says Sturgis isn't just about the Rally.
“It would probably put us out of the agricultural business. City ordinances do allow for agricultural operation but they have some conflicting ordinances dealing with nuisance and it would be only a matter of time before the pressure would be so great we'd be out of the ranching business,” says Lamphere.
But, the Sturgis City Manager David Boone is disappointed with the commission 's decision.
"The bottom line is the Sturgis community has to grow, we need to add economic development capacity to our community and the fact is the flat buildable ground, when you look at the topography the flat buildable ground is out on the East 34 corridor," says Boone.
Although the annexation has been denied Boone says the city will continue to look at ways of expanding city limits. He says greater boundaries will help lower property taxes for people who live in Sturgis when it isn't a Rally town but, their Black Hills home.
The city plans to go back to the drawing board and figure out a way to make the land annexation work.