Annexation issue unresolved
A call for a motion to rescind the annexation ordinance put in place by the Kelvin Buck administration was kicked down the road at the October 19 meeting of the Holly Springs Board of Aldermen.
Mayor Sharon Gipson opened the floor once more for discussion after explaining her stance on the issue.
She wants the ordinance repealed in its entirety, saying she believes the city should invest in the repair of infrastructure in the city proper, long overdue.
Problems with sewer spillovers at a number of lift stations, streets riddled with potholes, and other needs were cited by the mayor as her priorities.
She noted Randall Swaney, owner of the Marshall Steakhouse, has offered to pay for an extension of the sewer line from the city to the business.
Swaney needs sewer service in order to complete his plans to build an RV park and add cabins to his property in order to attract tourist traffic, he said.
Swaney said he has looked at the cost to extend the sewer line to the steakhouse, and it can run between $350,000 to $500,000. He will pay for the extension.
Gipson said the city would be responsible for the roads and maintenance of the sewer line and fire and police protection if Area 1 in the annexation plan is approved by the board of aldermen.
“Everyone knows I am opposed to annexation because the city is already stretched,” said Gipson, and she asked the board to repeal the ordinance.
Following these remarks a number of residents who are keenly in favor or opposed to the annexation spoke.
In brief, the following main points were stated:
• Rickey Raimey asked Swaney how often he has called for an officer at the Steakhouse.
“Never,” Swaney said. “We are going to need that sewer for the industrial park anyway,” Raimey said. Springs Industrial Park, established by the city and Marshall County, is now ready for site development. A second point made by Raimey is that annexation will raise the median income and “move this city forward. If we kill this annexation we will kill the entire city,” he said.
• Bobby Clanton said he had a petition from 110 objectors who do not want Area 3 and Area 4 left in the annexation plan. It would raise taxes and the city responded by adjusting boundaries in Area 4. He said the previous administration wanted the ordinance adopted in its entirety or not at all.
• Elder Eddie LeSure Sr. said property taxes always go up and do not come down. “We are looking at senior citizens like me,” he said. “My children have to pay taxes. If we don’t get this (annexation) in here, Holly Springs will still be sitting in the same place. We need to stand up and do something about it, a move to get set so we can go forward. The things we do will set us free.
“Potholes and speed bumps costs are not a million dollars ... to fix. It will open up both sides of the expressway. We need to do something about this,” LeSure said.
• Ward 2 alderman Andre Jones asked Swaney what benefits the steakhouse would bring to the city if it is annexed. Swaney said it will open up 100 RV site and 50 to 60 cabins, something he cannot do without sewer. And the number of employees there will double from its current 40. In short, the city would benefit from jobs and property and sales tax revenues.
Attorney John Perry said the city could accept payment for sewer extension from Swaney via a contractual agreement.
• Thelbert Lesure said the residents living in Holly Springs are more important. Sewers have been leaking for years on top of the ground, he said. Businesses outside the city have their own water and sewer lines. Water is running nonstop from the water system into drainage pipes, he said.
“We’ve got choices to make to make sure you do what people in Holly Springs voted for you to do,” he said. “The folks already in this town ask you to go ahead and repeal this so the judge can dismiss this case. Let’s take care of what we got first and repeal this annexation.”
• John Faulkner, District 5 state representative, said “this is a weighty decision.” “Annexation is not about challenges the city face today. It’s about our children’s generation,” he said.
The choice is stagnation of the economy versus growing the city before it is landlocked from every side.
“If we want to move this city forward, we need more space,” Faulkner said. “Every city annexes. Think about all commercial businesses and rooftops. Growth is going to happen and is already in motion. The choice is do we want growth in our city. Long after you (the current administration) are out of office, the decision will affect this city.”
• Phyllis and John Paul Carpenter, owners of a number of properties and businesses, expressed opposition to the annexation plan.
“I really want Holly Springs to grow, but this is not the time or way to do it,” Phyllis Carpenter said.
She urged a closer look at the deal Swaney was offering the city in exchange for sewer expansion.
John Paul Carpenter said, “Expecting to get bigger is not always the answer. You take care of the business that’s here and people will want to come to Holly Springs. You take care of your own house first and good things will happen.”
• Wayne Jones said growth can help the city to repair leaks and the infrastructure of water and electricity in the city.
“The problems with infrastructure did not happen overnight,” he said. “If we grow, it will solve some of your infrastructure problems. You cannot stop growth.”
• Jerome LeSueur, resident in Ward 4 and member of the board of directors of Marshall County Industrial Development Authority, expressed concern about growth in Holly Springs, the county seat of the county.
“We’ve got to get our priorities straight,” he said. “You got to get education and schools. No business is coming here if we are turning out students who can’t read. We need to unite.”
“We need to get our priorities in place and take a look.” Rail and highway access will draw industries into the industrial park, he said.
“Your school system. Nobody is going to bring their kids to a system that is not turning out good graduates,” he said.
• Jimmie Young said if anyone should be blamed for the problems of the city it should be the city itself.
“We can talk all the trash we want to talk,” he said.
He cited drugs and inadequate education as problems to be solved.
“You need to get off the dope,” he said. “God has been good to us. I know to treat people right, young men and old men, clean up your house. We’ve got to work together.”
• Thelbert Lesure took another bite out of the apple.
“Everybody wants to see the future, but we’re living in the right now.” he said.
Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel expressed dismay that Swaney’s offer was sniffed at, saying his offer was not out of line.
“Let’s be real. You’re not for a businessman to ask for something?” he said “Amazon got breaks. It’s being a businessman to ask for something and give something in return. That’s all I want to say.”
Jones asked to postpone action on the repeal of the annexation ordinance since the chancery court judge gave the city an extension to February before taking up the matter.
Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather said the city should look at the estimated cost to run sewer to Area 1.
“It’s $1.3 million and Swaney has offered to pay half of that,” Merriweather said. “I understand the benefits that could come to the city. I understand the revenue that we could have come in.”
Merriweather suggested amending the annexation plan rather than tossing the whole plan out.
“I understand growth has to happen and the talk about taking care of what you have, but you have to take opportunity as well. Think about taking in Area 1 and Area 4 (the race track side of town),” Merriweather said.
Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain said her ward wants the annexation for the children.
“I understand other constituents who don’t want it,” she said. “We want it (annexation) to exclude those who don’t want it. Is it feasible now to just phase in Area 1 and Area 2. Does it cost to amend it?”
Bobby Clanton said there is a modified agreement with the court, and so the annexation plan can be modified to leave the Marshall Steakhouse in.
“You have to vote to accept a final modification with maps,” he said. “It still reverts back to your (the board of aldermen’s) decision.”
Teel agreed holding off on a decision is best while more research is done.
Merriweather agreed, after hearing it would cost more to modify the plan.
“In the coming months we need to get something solidified, because we are coming to the meeting not having any more information,” she said. “Tonight is just a repetition. We know where everyone stands. We’re just waiting on Holly Springs to just vote it down.”