COTTONWOOD -- The Cottonwood City Council may pick up an agreement with Clarkdale over its earlier proposed Forest Service annexation and other future additions. The annexation of eight square miles of Forest Land northwest of Cottonwood collapsed recently when the city discovered there was no taxable landowner in the proposal, as required in state law.
Before that annexation came undone, Clarkdale Mayor Doug Von Gausig had proposed to draw a line in the sand past which both sides would agree not to cross, in order to avoid the controversial annexation of the Forest Service lands. One year after the forest annexation was originally filed, the Cottonwood Council Oct. 8 agreed to table the matter and explore a border agreement with its neighbor after all, after previously rejecting Clarkdale's offer.
Last week, council members looked at a draft agreement, but sent it back to attorneys for more negotiation.
A new proposal has been drafted for council consideration Tuesday night. Once again, the agenda allows for a closed-door review. But, that section of the typical work session is posted as a special meeting, so action could be taken, even though the text of the documents anticipate approval Nov. 17.
The new boundary agreement includes maps with lines that define the boundaries between Clarkdale and Cottonwood both north and south of the city. It also identifies private lands that separate the two and allows that they may be annexed if the owner approaches one of the communities and that specific action would still not violate the agreement.
The six-page document also provides for mediation if a dispute arises between the two municipalities or potential "oral arguments" in a Superior Court if necessary.
