Girdler wants city to double in size

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January 1, 2009

By BILL MARDIS, Editor Emeritus The Commonwealth Journal Thu Jan 01, 2009, 06:28 PM EST

Somerset — Somerset is about to embark on an ambitious annexation program that would more than double the city’s population within the next two years.

“We need to be between 20,000 and 25,000,” said Mayor Eddie Girdler. He pointed out that a city’s population is a gauge for federal grants and expressed hope that Somerset can significantly increase its size by the 2010 federal census.

Somerset’s current population is an estimated 12,136. An unofficial estimate says the city’s population increased by 6 percent during the decade of the 1990s. It grew 7 percent between 2000 and 2005.

Pulaski County’s current population is estimated at about 60,000, meaning some 48,000 live outside Somerset. Limited voluntary annexation has been done by Somerset in recent years but the city has not aggressively claimed territory.

Burnside has an active annexation program. The only city on Lake Cumberland recently extended its corporate boundary several miles down the lake to Lee’s Ford Marina Resort, an area in the Nancy voting precinct and considered by many as part of the Nancy community. No official measurement is available but, in land size, Burnside may well be the largest city in Pulaski County.

Ferguson is currently establishing its boundary, obviously for annexation purposes. The 5th class city is boxed in on three sides by Somerset’s corporate limits and the only way Ferguson can expand is south and east to and across Ky. 914 (southeastern bypass).

The way Girdler talks, it appears Somerset’s idea of annexation is voluntary; making county residents want to be part of the city. The mayor says he can prove that “ ... it’s more economical to come into the city than stay out ... that’s why I’m lowering taxes.”

Because Somerset is having to expand its water and sewage treatment plants, Girdler said rates will soon increase for residents and businesses outside the city limits. He estimated water rates for a family outside the city will jump between $5 and $7 a month. Higher rates also will be implemented in the near future for those outside the city attached to the city’s natural gas and sewerage systems.

The mayor didn’t say so, but he left the impression that higher rates wouldn’t apply to those coming into the city where no rate increases are projected. The mayor justifies the higher rates outside the city because he believes county residents, using city services, should share in the cost of necessary expansion projects. Somerset Water Service, for example, serves 100,000 people, not only in Pulaski County but extending into Russell, Casey and Lincoln counties. Use of the city water system is near capacity and expansion is necessary.

“It’s time for everybody in our community to work together,” Girdler commented. He revealed that Somerset currently has a policy for new customers of city services outside the city to sign an agreement to be annexed.

Girdler believes many county residents don’t want to be a part of the city because they think it would add city school taxes to their property tax bill.

“Not so,” emphasized the mayor. “Annexation by the city does not change the boundary of the Somerset Independent School District.” He assured that if a county resident lives in the Pulaski County School District, he or she would remain in the county school district if annexed by Somerset.

“We’re trying to initiate an annexation program,” reiterated Girdler. We need to (have a population) between 20,000 and 25,000 before the 2010 census.” Federal grants are based on population figures set by the U.S. Census Bureau.

“It’s ridiculous that a city our size has a population of only 11,000,” said Girdler, alluding to the 2000 census count of 11,352. He pointed out that Somerset, populationwise, has lagged behind nearby cities.

Richmond has a population of 30,893; Elizabethtown has 24,000; Glasgow, 14,107; and Danville, 15,477.

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