The next step in adding a new residential neighborhood to Washington was approved unanimously at this week’s City Council meeting. The council approved having the mayor sign a resolution for voluntary annexation. City Administrator Brent Hinson explained it’s a requirement, “One of the reasons, even though it seems odd that the city has to submit its own voluntary annexation application, that’s actually a court-tested thing, that cities have to actually affirmatively say, ‘Yes, we want to annex our own land in.’ So, that’s all this does, it just says, ‘The parcel we bought from Bells, we want annexed into the city limits.’”

The notice of annexation will be sent to the County Board of Supervisors, the Iowa Attorney General’s office, and the Washington County Attorney’s office.

Last November, the council approved purchasing the 43 acres off of Highway 1 south of the fairgrounds with $1,000 down and $19,500 per acre. The land was purchased from the Bell family. That land will be set aside for residential development.