Businesses React to Annexation

The City of Evansville is officially on its way to annexing part of Knight Township. Tonight City Council heard their first reading to annex more than 15 thousand acres into the city. The area includes about 17 hundred people, but even more businesses. Sign-A-Rama is preparing for a move into the city, but all their printers and signs and even the building are staying put. "Here everyone knows where to find us," says President Walter Valiant The store on Royal Avenue is part of the Knight Township area the City of Evansville wants to annexation. "We figured it was coming." The family owned business has been around for 57 years with locations in and out of the city. "We had a little store on the coroner of Fulton and they Lloyd." They moved to Knight Township more than 10 years ago. "It was scary there was nothing out here." But now theyre surrounded by shops and restaurants. Its the main reason the city wants the land. They have something to offer in return like police and fire protection. It was the first thought Valiant had when he heard the news. "My only concern are we still going to get good service." He says they already get great service from the Knight Township Volunteer Fire Department. Beyond that "what difference does it make?" Next the proposal goes to the city council committee meeting. They also have to hold a public hearing within 60 days and the property owners in the area have 90 days to protest. If no one challenges it the annexation is expected to happen around June second.