A group of about 25 Lampasas County residents attended a public hearing Monday evening to argue against annexing parts of County Roads 1020 and 1025 into the city limits.

Assistant City Manager Stacy Brack began the hearing by reading a list of city services residents will receive if annexed. Property owners will receive police patrols, building inspections and permits, code enforcement, and street maintenance and lighting. Residents currently pay for electricity and water at higher rates than city customers and if annexed will be charged the in-city rate.

Several members of the audience, though, said city regulations would outweigh the benefits of living in the city.

"The only thing I can see in there that we're going to benefit from is a police patrol every now and then," said Charles Laird, a CR 1020 resident, of the list of city services.

City Manager Michael Stoldt told Laird he and other rural residents would benefit from zoning and city land-use restrictions. The city manager said zoning protects property by preventing uses incompatible with residential areas.

Laird said he and his neighbors like the conditions they live in as county residents.

"We don't want the annexation," he said. "We don't want the inspections."

Wilson Neely, who lives on CR 1025, said he is satisfied with his solid waste provider and does not see a need for police patrols.

"I've been out there 27 years, and I've never seen a sheriff. Never needed to," Neely said. "Criminals don't hang out in a neighborhood like that."

Neely added that he would owe $1,200 annually in city taxes, based on the current property tax rate.

"I [already] pay my part of my taxes in the city," he said. "I have a business in town and a house in town."

Jay Elder, who lives on CR 1020 beyond the area under consideration for annexation, said city prohibitions on discharging firearms would burden residents who want to shoot snakes, feral hogs and wild cats on their lots. Especially with snakes, Elder said, homeowners cannot wait for an animal control officer to respond to a complaint.

"I think we're just going to end up with more regulation and less rights, and we're going to pay more for that privilege," Elder said.

The county resident said he spoke in opposition because if Lampasas annexes the 409 acres the City Council is considering taking into the city limits, his land not far to the west might be annexed in the future.

"I'll be next," Elder said. "When this gets annexed, it's going to creep on down the road. We don't want to be annexed. All we see with annexation is more regulation by the city."

After resident Freda Chavez asked about limits on outdoor burning in the city limits, Stoldt said Lampasas residents can obtain a burn permit, valid for seven days, for $5.

Residents can stay on septic tanks if annexed, as Stoldt said the city probably will not extend sewer services to the areas west of the current city limits.

"Those larger-type lots are more suited for septic tanks," he said.

Several speakers objected to comments Stoldt made in an earlier meeting about Lampasas- area property owners "paying their fair share." The city manager clarified his remarks, saying he had been referring to tax revenue needed to support the infrastructure the city provides for medical care, grocery stores, and other businesses and services available to area residents.

Not all who attended the hearing accepted that explanation, though.

"All y'all are thinking about is money," said Jacqueline Jones, who lives on CR 1025. "We're building out there, and we don't want to have to ask for permission on land that we worked hard for. We all have paid our dues."

Elvis Fisher said his taxes will increase between $800 and $900 per year if Lampasas annexes his 13 acres on CR 1025.

"I object to being taken into the city," he said. "I'm perfectly happy living in the county."

Fisher also objected to claims that residents in his neighborhood do not pay for city services in proportion to Lampasas residents.

"If that's true, let's put a toll booth on the north side of town, the south side of town, the east side of town and the west side of town and charge all those people who drive through the town and don't pay," Fisher said.

After the public hearing, the City Council voted to hold the first reading of an annexation ordinance Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Second reading will be Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m.

The council also held a public hearing Monday night about the proposed annexation of nine acres located west of Sheppard Lane and just north of the Diamond Ridge subdivision. No citizens spoke about that land.