BURLEY — Burley officials would like to annex several pockets of property within city boundaries that are not part of the city.

City of Burley Administrator Mark Mitton said during the Nov. 3 City Council meeting that there are several islands in the city that are subject to annexation, including several commercial properties and land that lies south of the Snake River behind Bonanza Motors.

Lawrence Burch, who owns the building occupied by the Bureau of Land Management, along with other property at 200 South Road and Idaho Highway 27 near Farmers’ Corner, said he would love to be annexed into the city and would even be willing to pay an excess fee of a few thousand dollars to get sewer and water service, providing the rate eventually fell back to normal.

“My neighbors are probably not as anxious,” Burch said.

Mitton said other areas that could potentially be annexed include the high school’s practice and baseball fields, property on Washington Avenue and a field near White Pine Intermediate School at Hiland Avenue and 21st Street.

Mitton said on Hiland Avenue, south of 27th Street, there is one house annexed next to two houses which are not.

Mitton said the annexation and increased tax rolls for the city comes with the expectation that the city will provide services such as water and sewer.

“Grandview (Avenue) is even more problematic,” Mitton said. The city has applied for a grant to put in sewer service in that area but has not yet received project funding.

Councilman Vaughn Egan said he would like to see the city start annexing, even beyond the islands.

He said many people who live just outside city limits take advantage of the city’s water service, parks and library. Annexing their property would help the city pay for those services, he said.

The issue will be forwarded to the Burley Planning and Zoning Commission.

Laurie Welch may be reached at lwelch@magicvalley.com.

or 208-677-8767.