Questions Raised Over West Tulsa Annexation Proposal

Emory Bryan, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The Tulsa City Council is asking questions about the timeline involving the annexing of the Berryhill area. 

Earlier this month, the city of Tulsa announced it wanted to annex portions of the county just west and north of Tulsa. 

8/9/2011 Related Story: Tulsa Looking To Expand City Limits To The North And West

During a meeting Tuesday morning, city Councilor Rick Westcott, who would serve the area, said he has concerns about whether city of Tulsa can adequately serve the area considering the existing budget. 

Read the annexation proposal[map photos included].

Westcott says while the administration has calculated the cost of police protection, the city does not yet have calculations on the cost of road and street maintenance, including snow and ice removal. 

The Berryhill Fire Department is just one of the complicating factors in the annexation. The Tulsa Fire Department would have responsibility for Berryhill if it's annexed.

The stakes are high because Tulsa has already spent $12 million outside the current city limits on the Gilcrease expressway.

Tulsa wants to at least annex a line around the highway to prevent another city from doing it first.

"And that protects us from Sand Springs or Sapulpa from coming in an annexing Berryhill and taking advantage of the millions of dollars we've spent," Westcott said.

In response to Westcott, city officials said Tulsa is developing a service plan to start city services to the area, including ambulance service, fire, police, water, sewer and trash. 

Not all services would be provided immediately, with the exception of emergency services.  The others can be phased in within 10 years.