CCISD trustees to hold hearing for annexation of LISD property in Big Divide area

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

 

A local property owner is seeking to have approximately 338.53 acres near Big Divide Road detached from the Lampasas Independent School District and annexed by the Copperas Cove Independent School District.

On Monday at 2 p.m., the Copperas Cove Independent School District board of trustees is holding a public hearing on a petition by Wesley Atkinson, president of Belpas, Inc. and owner of the acreage. The hearing will take place at the CCISD administration building, located at 703 W. Ave. D.

Atkinson filed a petition for detachment and annexation with both districts and LISD held a hearing on February 1.

At the hearing by the LISD board of trustees, Atkinson was present to answer questions about the petition. He reportedly cited one reason was the distance required for students to travel beyond fifth grade to schools within Lampasas itself and the transportation issues caused for both students and parents wanting to participate in school activities.

The acreage involved currently has no residents, so would not affect any students at the current time. There are plans, however, for residential construction on that property for as many as 300 homes over the next 10 years. All schools in Lampasas ISD are further away from the land in question than CCISD campuses, except for Taylor Creek Elementary.

After Monday's hearing, the next step in the detachment and annexation process, according to state law, is a findings phase which will gather more information about the potential detachment and annexation.

Following the findings phase, both boards of trustees will take votes to either approve or deny the petition.

If both districts give their approval, the commissioners courts of both Lampasas and Coryell counties would and negotiate a fair taxable value of that acreage, after which school district lines would be redrawn. If only one board of trustees disapproves of the transfer, an appeal can be made to the Texas Commissioner of Education, who would ultimately decide on the petition. If both school districts deny the petition, it ends immediately.

 

Copperas Cove Leader Press

2210 U.S. 190
Copperas Cove, TX 76522
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