Thursday, 15 November 2007 23:05

Jackson Hills Will Be Put To a Vote

Jackson City Council also took up the Jackson Hills Golf Community Project issue. In October, 2 referenda aimed at stopping the Jackson Hills project were submitted to the city and validated by the county elections office. The City had two options at this point: either repeal the resolutions against which the petitions were filed or submit the resolutions to the voting public. The soonest the referenda could meet election deadline requirements is the June 3, 2008 Statewide Primary Election. Public comment on the issue revealed confusion regarding the development agreement between the City and Jackson Hills’ developers.

City staff confirmed that the development agreement may still be “hammered out” and public workshops may be held, but no action may be taken on the project. A representative from New Faze asked that the city council stand firm with the vote they made 2 months ago. Alan Warren of New Faze said that a development agreement would give the public more details on the project and allow them to make an informed decision. Councilwoman Pryor-Escamilla recalled that the Gold Creek Project was turned down by public initiative in Jackson some years ago -- and now the property is developed outside city limits with the city getting all of the impacts but none of the mitigation fees that Gold Creek would have paid. In response to audience warnings of lawsuits and election retaliation earlier in the evening, Mayor Stidger said, “I don’t concern myself with future elections and I don’t concern myself with the threat of lawsuits.” Council then voted 4-1 to send the referenda to the voters. Finally, the council approved an Indemnity Agreement with Jackson Hills LLC which protects the city from the costs of any law suit on the Jackson Hills project.