Annexation plans in doubt

MERCEDES — A plan to extend the city limits on the east side may not win approval of residents who live in the area, a former city commissioner said Thursday.

The City Commission held a public hearing on June 17 to begin annexation of more than 230 acres of single-family homes and farmland on the city's east side.

The acreage, which was published incorrectly on the city meeting agenda as 216.76 acres in Boyd Subdivision I and II, was corrected to 234.4.32 acres, said Olga Rosas, city of Mercedes planning administrative assistant.

The property extends 2,110 feet north of Business 83 at Mile 1½ East Road, Rosas said.

No Mercedes citizens or Boyd Subdivision property owners were present at the meeting to speak on the annexation issue, Rosas said.

But on Thursday, former city commissioner David Garza, who owns a garage and towing company, said some of his customers who live in Boyd Subdivision have told him they don't want to be annexed.

Boyd Subdivision residents already have city of Mercedes police and fire protection, as well as city water, Garza said. When Boyd Subdivision was developed, it was in unincorporated Hidalgo County, so septic tanks were allowed, he said.

The main reason Boyd Subdivision residents don't want to be annexed is they don't expect streets to be improved in the subdivision if the city takes over, Garza said.

"(The city) can't take care of the streets they already have (inside city limits)," he said.