Will Wildwood Annex Clarkson Valley?

St. Louis County is the only Missouri county with a Boundary Commission, and in the next few months, its members may be entertaining proposed plans from and Clarkson Valley representatives about merging in some way in the future. Originally formed to oversee orderly incorporation in St. Louis county, boundary commissioners now focus on annexations; incorporations; consolidations; and transfers of jurisdictions between municipalities or the county.

At Monday night's Wildwood City Council meeting, Wildwood City Administrator Dan Dubruiel told attendees he and Wildwood Mayor Tim Woerther had been approached by Clarkson Valley Mayor Scott Douglass, who said he and his board of aldermen were interested in giving Clarkson Valley's 2,632 residents the opportunity to be annexed by Wildwood, if certain situational components arise.

Dubruiel said submitting new map plans to the Boundary Commission does not represent an obligation to proceed with annexation, however. In fact, the upcoming process is a bit lengthy.

1. Boundary assessment process started Jan. 1.
2. New map plans from municipalities for consideration by the Boundary Commissioners are due July 1.
3. Commissioners review submitted plans and public information meetings and hearings are held between Aug. 1 and Dec. 31.
4. During Jan. 1-April 1, 2013, Commissioners will comment on all plans, and attempt to reach consensus on any overlaps.
5. Final map plan decisions are to be made by April 15, 2013.

The last time Wildwood annexed was in 2005, said Dubruiel, when the St. Paul Road area was added. In 2006, Wildwood submitted plans to add a sizable area of unincorporated St. Louis County to Wildwood's southeastern city limits, but it did not materialize. That area contained three larger subdivisions south of Kiefer Creek Road and encompassed the Castlewood and Sherman areas. Council members again discussed the possibility of those land tracts, or portions of them, being annexed at Monday's meeting.

For annexation to take effect, favorable votes eventually are required by the majority of residents in both the city adding an area and the area or city being added.

Compared to Wildwood's large council composition, Clarkson Valley has the following setup:

• Mayor Scott Douglass
• Aldermen - 1st Ward: James Meyer and Dan King
• Aldermen - 2nd Ward: Honora Schiller and Wendell Sittser
• Aldermen - 3rd Ward: Scott Schultz and Lin Midyett

Clarkson Valley meetings are held once a month at the Fru-Con Center located on Clayton Road; their next meeting will be June 5. 

Considerations for Proposed Map Changes

Dubruiel outlined the following components as a decision tree for whether potential annexations make sense, given the number of areas to possibly include for adding to Wildwood:

• Does it and how does it benefit Wildwood?
• Is there perceived interest from the municipality or area residents under consideration for annexation?
• Are there commonalities and compatibility?
• Are there other means of connectivity, association or attachment with the proposed area to add?
• Are residents of the proposed annexed area anticipated to participate fully in Wildwood's activities and business?
• Can Wildwood provide services to the new area?
• Is there a favorable cost benefit from such action?

Dubruiel said Clarkson Valley could not be annexed or consolidated with Wildwood without the municipality being "disincorporated."