'Annexation Without Representation:' Landowners Upset Over El Reno Annexation

Several rural Canadian County residents are upset after El Reno's city council voted to annex their property without their consent, meaning they will be living within the city limits and paying the taxes, whether they like it or not.

Canadian County is the fastest growing county in Oklahoma, so many landowners in the annexed area say they knew annexation was inevitable but feel the City of El Reno took away their right to choose who annexed them.

Fisher is a former state legislator whose 30 acres sits in formerly unincorporated land of Canadian County.

“There's kind of a foot race between these municipalities to try to be the first ones in line to annex this area out here,” Fisher said.

City Council Approves Annexation After Lengthy Public Comment

The City of El Reno crossed the finish line Tuesday night at a special city council meeting where they voted to annex 23.5 square miles after nearly 6 hours of opposing public comment.

In doing this, the city bypassed a vote of the landowners by invoking an emergency annexation clause.

“Some things are legal, but they're not really moral,” Fisher said.

City Leaders Cite Development and Safety Concerns

El Reno City Manager Matt Sandidge cites developmental pressures as the reason.

“There are other entities that are actively having public hearings for annexation,” Sandidge said.

He also pointed to public safety and said the annexation will allow emergency response crews to respond quicker to the area, as well as give more regulation to construction in the area.

“We're here to support them, to support the infrastructure and really enhance and bless their quality of life,” El Reno Mayor Steve Jensen said.

Residents Frustrated Over Lack of Input

Fisher says the city missed the mark on residents’ concerns.

“The real issue is not the annexation. It's the fact that the landowners had no say in the matter whatsoever,” Fisher said.

Fisher said annexation is inevitable, but residents wanted to choose where they were annexed.

“They want to be able to choose the destiny of their property, not to have it forced upon them,” Fisher said.

Despite pushback, El Reno's City Council voted to annex the land.

CLICK HERE for a link to El Reno’s plan to extend municipality services into the area.