Some see it as positive growth while others see it as a declared war but they’re not talking about the bloody kind — this is the feud of municipalities. Earlier this month, Clark County passed an ordinance to deal with the objectionable annexations of properties throughout the county, more notably in the Rural Neighborhood Preservation area.

Centennial Hills resident Michelle Dishon, left, drives by Adam Simon and Karissa Berg as they ride their horses around their neighborhood near the northwest Clark County islands in Las Vegas July 15. Martin S. Fuentes/View

Centennial Hills resident Karissa Berg rides her horse around her neighborhood near the northwest Clark County islands of Las Vegas July 15. Martin S. Fuentes/View

A horse stable is seen at a Centennial Hills neighborhood near the northwest Clark County islands of Las Vegas July 15. Martin S. Fuentes/View

Centennial Hills residents, from left, Amanda Simon, Adam Simon and Karissa Berg ride their horses around their neighborhood near the northwest Clark County islands of Las Vegas July 15. Construction is seen in the background as the city continues its annexation on rural neighborhoods. Martin S. Fuentes/View

Quails are seen around a home at a neighborhood near the northwest Clark County islands of Las Vegas July 15. Martin S. Fuentes/View

Desert is seen around a home at a neighborhood near the northwest Clark County islands of Las Vegas July 15. Martin S. Fuentes/View

Centennial Hills residents, from left, Karissa Berg and Amanda Simon ride their horses around their neighborhood near the northwest Clark County islands of Las Vegas July 15. Martin S. Fuentes/View

Some see it as positive growth while others see it as a declared war, but they’re not talking about the bloody kind — this is the feud of municipalities.

Earlier this month, Clark County passed an ordinance to deal with the objectionable annexations of properties throughout the county, more notably in the Rural Neighborhood Preservation area. The ordinance would require a public hearing, allowing city representatives to address any allegations.

“As long as the city continues to aggressively move forward with these annexations, we will continue to protest,” said Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown. “Many residents know that we have tried many times to work with the city through negotiations, arbitration and mediations. This seemed like the next logical step the county could take — to bring it back to the judicial system and bring clarity to the situation.”

If county officials deem the annexation was improper, they could take action, including :

• Simply directing the city to remove the property from its jurisdictional boundaries.

• Placing any municipal taxes that would go to the city as a result of the annexation into a special fund to be held there.

• Directing the district attorney’s office to seek an injunction or judgment in District Court.

The ordinance was voted on unanimously.

Power struggles between the municipalities have been ongoing since the interlocal agreement expired last January, which allowed county landowners to connect into city infrastructure without paying higher city tax rates.

Last year the Nevada Legislature adopted SB 481, a bill that would bar cities from forcing unincorporated property owners within “service areas” to be annexed as a condition of using public utilities. In response, the Las Vegas City Council passed an ordinance defining the service area as property within existing city limits.

Ever since, the city has been annexing areas within pockets of the unincorporated county — mostly in the northwest area.

Under the terms of the interlocal agreement, the city delayed annexation of properties whose owners had signed a petition requesting to be annexed to the city. As a result of other approved annexations, a number of properties with signed petitions have recently become eligible for annexation , according to the city’s blog, cityoflasvegas.tumblr.com .

“Why did the city choose not to renew this unique collaboration between the city and county? There are two issues that I think speak to the crux of this matter. One is fire and the other is taxes,” Brown said. “Every day, the fire departments cross jurisdictional boundaries depending on who is closest.”

While Brown is trying to negotiate a new interlocal agreement, Mayor Pro Tem and Ward 6 City Councilman Steve Ross said, ”the city is not just fine without a new interlocal agreement.”

“The city is doing what it can to protect the city and its growth. At the same time I’m very protective of the rural areas,” Ross said. “People have invested their life into the rural lifestyle and they darn-well need to enjoy it. We do our best to maintain that rural lifestyle for these folks. I’m not against this lifestyle. I lived in a 1-acre ranch and had two septic systems.”

Ross stressed that homeowners that have been annexed into the city with horses will be able to keep them on their property.

As a city councilman, Ross said his main concern is that many of the county homes want the benefits of city sewer, fire and rescue services without having to pay all of the costs of being in the city.

Brown argues that the majority of those who choose to live in the rural areas have their services set up independently.

Property taxes are estimated to increase by less than $200 per $100,000 of taxable value, as determined by the Clark County Assessor’s Office, for the first year, after which the property is subject to a 3 percent cap like all property taxes in the state.

Additional taxes paid to the city will go toward fire protection, park maintenance and roads, Ross added.

Many county homeowners argue they purposely purchased their homes to escape from the city life and indulge in the last remaining piece of rural life — they stress they do not want paved roads, sidewalks or streetlamps.

Northwest-area resident Michael Goodman is an outspoken critic of the city’s move toward annexation. He’s currently fighting a request for a General Plan Amendment from rural density residential to general commercial near his home at the northwest corner of North Hualapai Way and West Deer Springs Way.

“They want to build a hamburger joint, car wash, storage unit and gas station. No one in their right mind would buy their home near here if we knew that,” Goodman said. “This is the house I plan to die in. We looked at the zoning map and it clearly stated that this area was residential. I don’t want to live next to all these businesses. I feel like I was betrayed. If this development is approved, it will be a death sentence to our community.”

Brown also sees such changes.

“There was not one General Plan Amendment in this area during the time that the interlocal agreement was in place,” he said. “In the last six months, there have been two, both from the city of Las Vegas. That’s why the neighborhood should be concerned — because if the city and representatives from the city said they are going to protect the people, then why are they accepting a General Plan Amendment in our protected areas?”

Residents said they are tired of going to meetings to protest developers who want to annex areas into the city and change their rural setting.

“We’ve gone to as many as 14 meetings for one developer,” northwest-area resident Michelle Dishon said. “Along with the increase of developments, we have seen an increase of crime, and it has lowered our property value.”

With all of these seemingly dead ends, Brown has some advice for county residents.

“People have to continue to have their voice heard because it will mean something when this finally gets resolved,” Brown said. “We can’t afford to allow voices to become silent because silence could be taken by city and future city leaders as acceptance.”

Homeowners plan to do just that.

“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything,” Dishon said. “We’re going to continue protesting.”

“We’re literally fighting for our lives,” Goodman added.

To reach North View reporter Sandy Lopez, email slopez@viewnews.com or call 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy.