Cities wrestle over turf for new airport
ST. GEORGE - A turf battle is brewing between Washington City and St. George over some property near where a new southwestern Utah airport is planned.
Washington City has petitioned to annex more than 1,400 acres of Washington County property that would of extended the city's boundary to the new airport's eastern edge.
Problem is, the annexation would create an island of unincorporated county land between the two cities. And that, say county officials, violates state law.
"Our only involvement is to protect the county interests, and state law says an annexation cannot create an island, " said County Administrator John Willie. "They [Washington City] can resubmit a petition if it does not expand to the St. George city limits."
Although owned by St. George, the airport, which has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, is planned on a thin strip of county land running between the two cities.
St. George City Attorney Shawn Guzman said the city will protest any future annexation attempts by Washington City.
The annexation would have been "like stepping out of the airport in Salt Lake [City] and being in another city," said Guzman. "We need to have the land for the airport's security, safety and access."
St. George hopes eventually to annex from the from the county the property where the airport will be located, said Guzman
St. George's mayor, Dan McArthur, who has been fighting for the new airport for 15 years, said his city and Washington City need to sit down and draw a boundary line.
And, he said, it is crucial that St. George be the sole entity controlling the airport.
But Washington City Manager Roger Cutler sees no reason why his city can't help run the airport, a possibility he said he has discussed with St. George officials in earlier planning meetings.
Said Willie, the county administrator: "We probably haven't heard the end of this - yet."