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WEBVTT JAMES WILCOX IS IN GRETNA.REPORTER: THAT RESTRAINING ORDERHAS SHUT DOWN ALL TALKS.ALL VOTES PUT ON HOLD.THE ISSUE IS NOW IN THE HANDS OFTHE COURTS.CITY COUNCIL AT A STANDSTILL INGRETNA.THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ANOTHERVOTE ON THE ANNEXATION PLAN.SARPY COUNTY WHAT IT STOP TO IT.PREVENTING GRETNA FROM MOVINGFORWARD, THE COUNTY FILING THISLAWSUIT ALLEGING THE ANNEXATIONIS ILLEGAL.>> THEY ARE TEMPTING TO ANNEXLAND THAT IS AGRICULTURAL, WHICHIS SOMETHING YOU CANNOT DO.>> ANOTHER ISSUE YOU LOOK AT,WHAT ARE THOSE URBAN FACILITIESIN THE AREA?REPORTER: HE SAID THAT LAND ISWORTH MORE FOR DEVELOPMENT ANDAGRICULTURE, SO THE ANNEXATIONIS IN LINE WITH THE LAW.A RELIEF FOR FARMERS WOULD LOSEA SPECIAL TAX DESIGNATION IF THEANNEX IS APPROVED.>> THE TAX IS GOING TO QUADRUPLEIF WE DON'T KEEP OUR GREENBELT.REPORTER: NOW, THE START OF ALEGAL BATTLE.>> WE THINK IT IS CLEAR THATLAND IS AGRICULTURAL.REPORTER: BOTH SIDES PREPARED TOPLEAD THEIR CASE.>> WE ARE CONFIDENT WE HAVESUPPORT.IF WE DID NOT THINK THE LAWSUPPORTED --REPORTER: THE NEXT STEP IS AHEARING ON A TEMPORARYINJUNCTION.THAT IS SET FOR OCTOBER 31 INSARPY COUNTY COURT.

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The Sarpy County Attorney's office sued the City of Gretna Wednesday, seeking to stop that community's plans to nearly double its land size.It comes the same day the Gretna city council was set to hear and vote on the plan for the second of three times. It passed unanimously after the first vote Tuesday night."Civil process is on its way to the meeting so council can not move forward with this second reading," said Bonnie Moore, chief deputy county attorney.County lawyers argue the annexation package is illegal because it absorbs farmland into city limits. Sarpy County attorneys claim state statute prevents that from happening, and the annexation could harm the county coffers."As Gretna annexes, they take away the county zoning jurisdiction and we lose out on potentially upwards of $2.5 million in platting fees and other fees related to building and development," Moore said.The temporary restraining order prevented council from taking another vote on the annexation issue Wednesday, but the city attorney believes they'll eventually be able to move forward. "A lot of the parcels in these areas are selling for development purposes and development prices. We've got the Vala's Pumpkin Match, the Nebraska Outlet Mall, Walmart. All those are urban-suburban facilities, services and developments. That helps support the contention of the city that this is urban-suburban in character," Gretna City Attorney Jeff Miller said.It's just the latest battle in the Sarpy County land war.Papillion Mayor David Black said Tuesday "fear is not a valid planning tool", hours after Gretna City Council members suggested annexation was necessary to thwart plans by its neighbor to the east."The City of Papillion has no intention or desire to annex Gretna," said Mayor David Black in a statement. "As Mayor of Papillion, I have never stated intent to cross over the interstate and fully control interchanges. The opposite has been demonstrated."The Gretna City Council advanced an aggressive annexation package Tuesday night, after hours of public discussion on the plan to double the size of the Sarpy County community.Council member Angie Lauritzen suggested Papillion had been bullying Gretna, as she voiced her support for annexation.In his statement, Mayor Black expressed a desire to be partners with Gretna for economic growth.The Gretna City Council holds another public hearing on the proposal Wednesday, with a final vote set for Thursday night.