By BILL MARDIS, Editor Emeritus
Commonwealth Journal
Somerset —
The mayor of Ferguson said he appreciates concerns of Somerset and Burnside about Ferguson’s annexation plans, but he said the action is being taken to keep his city from being completely encircled, threatening its survival. Mayor Allen Dobbs reacted to concerns expressed by Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler and Ron Jones, a Burnside city councilor, about Ferguson’s plans to annex highway corridors. The annexation, if effected, would block Somerset’s expansion to the southeast and Burnside’s growth to the northeast. Ferguson’s unique annexation proposal would extend the fifth-class city’s corporate limits along new Ky. 1247 south from Ferguson, almost to or possibly adjacent to Burnside city limits. Also, it would annex Ky. 914 (southeastern bypass) from Ferguson’s southern limits east to Rush Branch Road. Only the highways and rights-of-way would be annexed; no private landowners or businesses are affected. Dobbs indicated he is aware that annexing the highways into the city limits of Ferguson would form an incorporated curtain to prevent Somerset from taking in property southeast of Ferguson. Ferguson is already surrounded on three sides by Somerset and Dobbs expresses fear a grab by the larger city of land southeast of Ferguson would completely enclose his city. Historically, corporate lines between Somerset and Ferguson have been a sore spot. “By controlling the highways, it keeps us from being encircled,” reasoned Dobbs. “It allows us to survive. If we (Ferguson) allow Somerset to control rights-of-way and entrances to Ferguson we could be squeezed out of existence. If the roads are controlled by another city, we are at a standstill. Our people (in a referendum about four years ago) emphasized they want the city of Ferguson to remain,” Dobbs added. Boundaries of Ferguson’s current city limits are jagged. Dobbs said on the west the city’s boundary extends just west of Waste Connections on Ky. 914; on the south to just south of Maranatha Baptist Church and Lake Cumberland Commerce Complex property; on the east to near North Frank Denham Road; and to the north, the city of Somerset, encircling three sides. Legally, Ferguson may be able to consummate the annexation without opposition. There are no voters or landowners within the proposed annexed areas that would be affected by the action. The state owns the highways and Neal Shoemaker, chief district engineer for the Department of Highways’ District 8, says the highway department doesn’t protest annexation. The Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled in a lawsuit against Burnside annexing 14 miles of Lake Cumberland shoreline to take in Lee’s Ford Marina Resort that the property belongs to the government and they assented to the annexation; therefore the annexation is legal. The highway department is sole owner of the highways to be annexed by Ferguson and apparently the state doesn’t care. There are no private property owners or voters with standing to protest Ferguson’s plan. The highways proposed to be annexed give Ferguson breathing room. The mayor expressed hope that owners of property abutting the highways will want city services Ferguson can offer, and request annexation. Ferguson could provide police protection to a newly annexed area, and Dobbs said other city services could be available in the future. Ferguson currently purchases water and natural gas from Somerset. “We’re trying to build a solid plan for the city to grow and prosper,” said Dodds. “We would do everything possible to provide services to these (annexed) people.” The annexation proposals are in three separate ordinances. Ferguson City Council unanimously enacted intents to annex the roadways. The council is currently is a 60-day waiting period required by law before considering two readings of ordinances that would bring the highways within the city.