El Reno city leaders voted to annex land along its eastern boundary despite concerns from residents and landowners.
City leaders said they are adding the land to protect the areas from the looming expansion and development of Oklahoma City and the City of Yukon. During the public comment period, many residents brought questions and concerns about the annexations, how the city would extend municipal services to the area or how the city went about adding the land.
The city’s council voted to annex the sections in a pair of special meetings on Jan. 2 and Jan. 7.
Under state law, cities can annex land through landowner consent or ordinances. El Reno added the sections of property through ordinances. Nearly every one passed with an emergency clause, meaning they would take effect immediately instead of within 30 days.
Rural residents said they had received communications from Yukon and Oklahoma City about annexing their land and questioned why El Reno was making the move now.
At the beginning of the meeting, El Reno Mayor Steve Jensen said Oklahoma City and Yukon have been looking westward and will not stop until they reach El Reno’s or Union City’s boundaries.
“El Reno is gonna grow with vision and planning, or it can grow as an obstinate child, kicking and screaming,” Jensen said.
Canadian County is the fastest-growing county in Oklahoma and the 27th-fastest in the U.S., according to the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Economic Development.
Former state Rep. Dan Fisher was at the meeting and said if it were put up to a vote, people could choose the fate of annexation.
“If your assumption is true, that the annexation is inevitable. It’s either going to happen from Oklahoma City, or it’s going to happen from Yukon, or it’s going to happen from El Reno, then I believe all of us are smart enough to know how to make a decision on our own,” Fisher said.
Although most residents expressed concern, fifth-generation farmer Mark Rubes said his farm is in jeopardy of being engulfed by Oklahoma City.
“I’m sorry this incorporation bothers you. But it’s either Yukon, Union City or El Reno. I’m choosing El Reno,” Rubes said. “I’m glad they’re here.”