The city of Pevely has gotten a little larger.
The Pevely Board of Aldermen voted 7-0 March 15 to approve the voluntary annexation of an approximately 75-acre property northwest of the city.
City Administrator Nathan Schauf said the annexation took effect today, April 1.
William and Rachael Menkhus of Pevely own the entire tract, which is off Metropolitan Boulevard and did not border the city’s boundaries.
Another approximately 75-acre piece of land lies between the previous city limits and the newly annexed property.
City attorney Robert Sweeney said state legislation enacted in August 2018 allows a city, town or village to annex territory not touching it if the property owners in between are offered annexation and refuse.
He said that was the case with the Menkhus property.
“The people in between were given the opportunity and declined,” Sweeney said. “An island (the land between the city limits and the newly annexed property) is allowed so long as the city attempts to eliminate the island through voluntary annexation.”
Pevely was allowed to proceed with the annexation under State Statute section 71.012, Sweeney said. “It’s relatively new legislation,” he said.
Sweeney said the legislation is not clear about how far away land could be from a city to be considered for voluntary annexation.
“The statute does not identify a specific limitation,” Sweeney said. “I would say (such an annexation) would be limited by practicality. A city wouldn’t want to do this 20 miles away. There is a practicality of services and benefits.”
Shauf said William and Rachael Menkhus asked the city to annex their property.
“They submitted a voluntary annexation request,” Schauf said. “It is a residential zone.”
Ward 1 Alderman Steve Markus, who serves as the board liaison to the city Planning and Zoning Board, said the annexed property is a subdivision under development.
“It’s a subdivision and they’ve got water and sewer (already installed),” he said. “They want to get into the city where they would have local police protection.”
In addition to the possibility of more tax revenue from the newly annexed property, Markus said Pevely officials see the annexation as a way to protect the city’s interests from future encroachments by other municipalities.
“We need to expand the city’s boundaries,” Markus said.
“We can’t be stagnant. Other cities could annex around us.”
Pevely had never before annexed property that didn’t border the city’s boundaries, Schauf said.
He said the city sent out 141 letters to owners of property between the city limits and the recently annexed land to see if they wanted to be included in the annexation, and they did not.
Pevely Ward 3 Alderman Don Menkhus is the brother of William Menkhus but was not restricted from voting on the annexation, Sweeney said.
“There is no direct financial benefit (to Don Menkhus),” Sweeney said.