While the Pilot headline story about the city’s plans to annex 70 properties along Whitefish Lake stated that it was for lakeshore preservation, this move, if carried out, will ensure the opposite effect.  

While there are few who would dispute that the lake needs more sewer hookups to prevent the continuing pollution from antiquated septic fields, if the city forces the annexation, why would any lakefront homeowner ever cooperate with a sewer installation in the future?

The only properties targeted for annexation are those who paid for the sewer to be put in, but had to sign onto a poison pill “waiver of right to protest annexation.”   In short, all lakefront homeowners are now on notice that if they agree to install the city sewer line, they will be annexed and thereby have their property taxes raised, once again!

One thing this annexation proposal by the city will do is shut down any cooperation with future sewer hookups.

— Nick Chickering is a lakefront homeowner