Hills Area Annexed To Ann Arbor

Proposal Carries In Subdivision By 129-81 Margin

Annexation to the city of the 162-acre Ann Arbor Hills Subdivision area was approved yesterday.

Separating the area from Ann Arbor township and adding it to the city was approved on the third time such a proposition has been on the ballot within the last six years. The annexation is to become effective in 60 days.

Unofficial returns showed that the annexation proposition in the affected area with 129 favorable votes. There were 81 votes against the proposition.

The vote in the area, just outside eastern city boundaries, was considered the crucial one. In two previous elections, one in 1952 and the other in 1954, votes in the area went against annexation.

Needed Two Majorities

Accomplishment of the annexation required a favorable majority by residents within the affected area, plus a combined favorable majority of votes cast in the rest of the township and in the city.

City electors balloted heavily in favor of the annexation proposition—4,402 to 1,240, according to unofficial returns.

The wide favorable margin in the city was more than enough to offset a vote against the annexation cast by a light turnout of voters in Ann Arbor township outside the affected area. Those township voters cast 58 unfavorable votes and 30 in favor of the annexation, unofficial returns showed.

Combined Vote Favorable

The combined city-township majority in favor of annexation works out at 4,432 to 1,298.

Annexation of Ann Arbor Hills will add about 125 homes to the city. The proposition covered 162.44 acres, including 26.5 in roads.

Basic reason behind the move toward annexation was a serious need for an improved method of sewage disposal in the area. Each home in the area now is served by an individual septic tank and disposal field system, many of which have become faulty. Annexation will enable facilities tied in with the city sewage disposal system.