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City cuts services to areas in McLeansville

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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

(Updated 11:38 am)

By Amanda Lehmert
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — After a judge’s ruling that overturned a 2009 Greensboro annexation, the city will gradually shut down services it provides to three McLeansville subdivisions.

Laurel Park, Hartswood Village and Whitehurst Village are no longer part of Greensboro. It is not clear whether the city will appeal the judge’s decision.

Meanwhile, the city will scale back the services it provides to homeowners in the area. As of today, the Greensboro Police Department will no longer respond to calls in those areas, the Guilford County’s Sheriff’s Office will, and the city will not make road repairs.

The city will stop picking up trash and recycling in the neighborhoods March 13. And residents will see a change to their water bills starting next month, when the rates revert to the county water rate, which is double the city resident rate.

The Greensboro fire station on Mount Hope Church Road will continue to provide fire service to the area until a solution can be reached with Guilford County.

Assistant City Manager Denise Turner said Greensboro leaders are trying to figure out whether they have to refund the subdivision residents any city property taxes they paid.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com

Accompanying Photos

Tim Rickard

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theurbaneplanner

February 10, 2010 - 9:16 am EST

If property owners do receive any refunds of taxes paid to the City, they will need to file an amended tax return if they itemized their deductions and deducted property taxes paid on both real and personal property to the City of Greensboro. Wouldn't want anybody to get in trouble with the IRS. Hope they enjoy paying double water and sewer bills, which, of course, you can't deduct from your income taxes...oh well.

Indy1776

February 10, 2010 - 9:43 am EST

So why is it legal for any city to gouge a citizen for a fee-based service? Water/sewer are not tax based services in North Carolina. This is nothing more than legalized extortion...but then that is nothing new for North Carolina.

theurbaneplanner

February 10, 2010 - 12:25 pm EST

Those persons who reside in this area are citizens, however they are no longer citizens of the City of Greensboro, they are now customers receiving a service, and the City is no longer under any obligation, Constitutional or otherwise, to treat them equally with the citizen/customers of the City of Greensboro with respect to the rate at which they pay for City services. Water and sewer service are merely one facet of the comprehensive range of services offered by large municipalities in NC. And paying for said service is only one facet of the comprehensive set of responsibilities required of citizens to enjoy the benefits of those services. The City of Greensboro did not approach the developers of this property, they were approached by the developers seeking municipal services, and in return for the receipt of those services, it was expected that when financially feasible for the City to extend the full range of services, that tax revenue, in conjunction with enterprise service revenue would provide a reciprocal benefit to the City and its residents.

whatnow

February 10, 2010 - 10:37 am EST

Do they also plan to refund the thousands of dollars residents had to pay for underground pipes to connect to the city water system?

tryingtoremainneutral

February 18, 2010 - 10:02 am EST

Another important item is since they are in the County once again they do not conform to County Zoning. Way to many houses per acre of land. If the city is stopping Police and Garbage service then why not go ahead and turn off the Water and Sewer forcing the people to give in to being held HOSTAGE Is it not against the law to hold someone hostage?