Meeth bows out on annexation

By Linda Bentley | May 6, 2009

Grace MeethCAVE CREEK – During Monday’s meeting, Cave Creek Town Council approved the first reading of each of the three annexation ordinances by a vote of 6-1 with Councilwoman Grace Meeth dissenting.

Councilman Ernie Bunch said, “I am honored to make the motion. I’d be crazy not to support this.” Councilman Thomas McGuire said, “This is a historic move for Cave Creek,” while Councilwoman Kim Brennan said, “It’s been a long time coming.” Councilman Dick Esser stated it was a “great opportunity that will never come again.”

Mayor Vincent Francia paused to ask Meeth, “Why, at the end of this long road would you vote no?”

Meeth responded, “We haven’t done our due diligence. The details about the amount of money is more than a concern.”

She said, “The state land thing fell apart. It’s not free land anymore.” And, even though the town has been reassured the land will be appraised as open space rather than residentially zoned land, Meeth claims, because land recently purchased by the city of Phoenix for open space was zoned residential, the open space could end up being $20,000 per acre.

Meeth talked about what she believes citizens want, despite the fact citizens also chose to not reelect her during the Primary Election.

Photo: Grace Meeth
Photo by Linda Bentley