A problem arises and the paid hands at the local government research the problem and present it to the proper political entity. The city limits are no longer terra incognita, no longer dark regions from which no man returns. One of our friends says the hyperactive Alpine Police Department moves the signs to expand their jurisdiction for busting unwary travelers. Overnight whole blocks of territory suddenly appear on city maps. City water, sewer and road crews begin furiously working to extend services to areas actually not in the city still or ever.
Trash trucks roam the area looking for targets of opportunity.
On the west edge of Alpine, one developer s property called Quail Ridge has been waiting for utility approval since 1995. In 1999 we had furious public hearings and press controversies just prior to the city elections. Most people eventually forgot what the fuss was about and we returned to arguing about tax abatements and utility services for new motels. Suddenly with a rush just before elections, the local grantsman for GrantWorks appeared at the Planning and Zoning Commission with two large maps. The half dozen people attending on March 19 quickly set about moving lines and rearranging the city.