Coolidge vs. Florence

Coolidge, Florence feud flares over towns' annexation plans, from the Arizona Republic, reports that Coolidge and Florence are in an annexation battle around the Coolidge airport southeast of Coolidge. Florence officials claim Coolidge isn't playing fair by muscling them out of annexing land already within their general plan and water and sewer provision for annexation. Coolidge officials contend they're just looking out for their own economic-development interests by gaining control of land around their airport so that land-hungry Florence's developments can't interfere with flight paths and the planned eventual opening of another runway. Coolidge recently files to annex 4,100 acres around the airport, but within Florence's general plan. Coolidge is positioning the area to be it's major business center due to the airport, a potential major freeway link and the businesses and people that will bring, translating into tax revenues for the city.