COLUMBUS – The Town of Columbus added 136.85 acres of commercial property to its town limits.

Columbus Town Council met Dec. 11 and unanimously approved the voluntary annexation of 136.85 acres, located adjacent to Milliken and across Hwy. 108.

Columbus held a public hearing prior to the annexation approval with only one person speaking. One woman, who did not give her name, asked if the new Polk County Jail is being annexed into town limits.

Columbus Town Manager Tim Barth said the parcel is on both sides of Hwy. 108 but does not include the new jail parcel. Barth said the property is directly across the Milliken Hatch plant beyond the row of trees plus the acreage across Hwy. 108 that has been cleared. It does not include the land the new law enforcement center is on, Barth said.

The woman also asked about the zoning of the property.

Barth said the parcel is currently unzoned since it’s not yet part of the town. The town will zone the property later.

Councilman Robert Williamson said the property will be a real asset for the Town of Columbus. After walking the property, he said there is quite a view of the mountains, and he added that the lay of the land is conducive to a nice looking community.

Columbus received a petition from Hwy. 108 LLC, owned by Clary Hood and John Montgomery, to voluntarily annex the property. The part of the parcel located across from Milliken has already been cleared and the portion adjacent to Milliken is being cleared. The parcel is currently for sale.

The property is contiguous to town limits. Property nearby includes the parcels now owned by Polk County, where a new jail is being constructed. Polk County purchased 19 acres from Hwy. 108 LLC last year for the new jail as well as another small parcel off Park Street.

The 136.85 acres requested for voluntary annexation is one parcel that is split by Hwy. 108.

By approving the annexation into town limits, Columbus will receive both tax revenue from the property as well as water and sewer fees once connections to town services are made.