Protect West Lakeland from Annexations

Townships in Minnesota are subject to annexation of certain lands within the town without the approval of the town. At the very least, we need some orderly annexation agreements with surrounding cities.

The legislature has been discussing changes to laws for years, but nothing has been done. Afton became a city to avoid annexation by Woodbury. The newest city in Minnesota is Credit River near Prior Lake and Savage. Empire Township is in the process of becoming a city to avoid annexation by Faribault. It was only after the City of Stillwater annexed certain areas of Stillwater township that the town negotiated and entered into an orderly annexation of agreement with the city. Grant becoming a city was at least partially motivated to prevent annexation by Stillwater and Willernie and even Withrow. West Lakeland borders 3 statutory cities, Lake Elmo, Lakeland and Afton. As you should recall, the Holiday Gas Station was approved as a conditional use after the town board felt threatened by the possibility of annexation by Afton. As there are agreements already in place with other towns and cities, it is not necessary to re-invent the wheel.

Minimally, the board ought to Just ask to see the agreement with some other cities and talk to the parties.