The Bonney Lake City Council Aug. 10 repealed, then again passed, a resolution regarding annexation of three “sub areas” to the south of city limits. The purpose was to re-word the resolution to exempt those living in the annexation areas from assuming debt from bonds approved by voters.

According to Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman, who brought the resolution forward, there should not be any bonded debt in the city by the time the new sections would join in 2012, but he didn’t want the assumption of debt to hinder potential votes.

Presently, the only voter-approved debt being paid by city residents is the bond for the city’s Public Safety Building, which was approved by voters in 1997. However, that bond is scheduled to be paid off in 2011.

Swatman said he just wanted to be clear that annexing into the city did not bring with it any debt for incoming residents.

The council briefly discussed the matter, deciding against a motion to table the issue until the next workshop because of the compressed timeline to get the matter onto the ballot for a February or March election date.

According to City Administrator Don Morrison, the city has six months after the passage of the resolution to file a notice of intent with the county, which will then do a 45-day review of the issue.

Morrison said the city plans on filing the notice well before the six-month deadline, but wanted to get the resolution passed “just to make sure there’s ample time.”

Councilmember Mark Hamilton said that he feels that anyone who comes into the city should take their share of the city’s obligation debt, since they would be getting the benefits. In this case, he said it wouldn’t matter, but in the future, incoming resident should pay their share.

Swatman agreed, adding that if there was debt, he would want incoming residents to share it, but in this case, thought the indebtedness language was unnecessary.

The resolution passed 6-1 with only Hamilton voting against it. Hamilton also voted against the prior annexation resolution and has said in the past that now is not the right time for an annexation because of the stress it will put on city services and staff in trying economic times.