El Reno added the Banner Road and I-40 area to its city limits Thursday morning, but not until residents in the area had given city leaders a tongue lashing. 

Council voted 5-0 to annex what is described as Phase D of the recently announced expansion plan. The vote came at the conclusion of a 40-minute public hearing that pretty much filled the conference room at the Public Safety Center off SW 27th Street. The area is bounded on the south by Reno, the north by Elm Street and the east by Gregory Road. 

Council member Amy Neathery made the motion to move forward with the annexation and her motion was quickly seconded by council member Pete Stapperfend.

Prior to the vote, council member Dr. Brian Shafer defended the city’s plan, saying it would be better for residents in the area to “hitch their wagon” to El Reno rather than Yukon or Oklahoma City. In early December, El Reno’s city council voted to move forward with the annexation plan. The following week, Yukon’s municipal government announced a similar move. Oklahoma City is already the largest municipal government in Canadian County in terms of area. 

Shafer, an El Reno dentist, asked the audience where they thought their interests would be better represented, in El Reno or “downtown Oklahoma City.”

The overwhelming majority in the audience indicated they did not want to be inside any city limits, although Debra Brown warned against waiting for Oklahoma City to consume them. 

“We have to be proactive, otherwise Oklahoma City will not stop,” she said. “Across the street from Banner School is Oklahoma City.” 

But Brown was the only area resident to speak in favor of El Reno’s annexation plan. 

Attorney Mark Henricksen said he was there to represent two “corporate clients” and neither wanted any part of being inside the El Reno city limits. Henricksen scolded the city of El Reno for holding the public hearing and special meeting of the city council at 8 a.m., “the day after a major holiday.”

He said it came across as sneaky and was obvious “El Reno is in a race with Yukon.” He called the move “offensive.”

“All you're going to do is adopt a large number of disgruntled voters,” Henricksen said. 

He said property owners in the area would become “second class residents” of El Reno if the annexation took place. 

Shana Hurst, a resident in the area, said if the city pushed through with the annexation, there had to be action taken to give those living there “a voice at the table.” 

Information provided by the city said the area would likely be included in either Ward 2, which is currently represented by Stapperfend, or Ward 3, which is currently represented by Vice Mayor David Black. 

Mayor Steve Jensen outlined the reasons for the annexation plan. He said growth is coming to El Reno and Canadian County. 

“El Reno can grow to be a bright, shiny spot on the hill or it can grow like an obstinate child, kicking and screaming, but growth is coming,” he said. 

“Canadian County is the fastest-growing county in the state of Oklahoma and it’s one of the fastest growing in the nation,” Jensen said. 

He said by annexing the area, the city could provide services such as police and fire protection, animal control and road maintenance as well as zoning.

He said this would give residents a “say” in what goes in next to their property. 

But most in the audience were not persuaded. They said the county sheriff already provides police protection and water is provided by the Banner Rural Water Authority.

It was pointed out federal law forbids a municipality from encroaching on territory serviced by a Rural Water Authority. 

Jana Knott, El Reno’s city attorney, said changes made to state law allow a municipality to move forward with annexation with a simple vote of the city council.