KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - Neighborhood Upset By Special Assessments
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by Kim Hynes150 yards of pavement and a bill for $2,500. "We don't want the street, we never did," Scott Henry said.
But he and 15 of his neighbors recently received a bill from the city of Wichita. It's a special assessment connecting Maple Lane to Arapaho Street.
In 2005, a developer petitioned to pave the street so he could build houses. The city council approved it. "The whole neighborhood doesn't want it and one person does. It seems to be unfair," Henry said.
The neighbors say the street has no benefit to them. But the city says it doesn't matter. State law allows special assessments to pave both a front street and side street for all homeowners.
"If someone petitions to put one in and it's going to go by or through your property, you'll be assessed part of that cost," Wichita Public Works Director Chris Carrier said.
Before special assessments happen, the city sends out letters and holds public hearings. Carrier says people need to attend the meetings and talk to their council members. He says that's the only way the city will know there's opposition.
In this case, neighbors didn't go to all of the meetings. They either had to work or felt the project was a done deal. "We were tired of going to meeting, tired of fighting it," Henry said.
Now the street is paved and they're stuck with the bill. They hope others can stop similar situations from happening in their neighborhoods. "People need to know its happening," he said.
Homeowners have 30 days to pay the special assessments in cash. If they don't, it will be included on their property taxes. It's spread over 15 years and includes interest.
