By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
July 21, 2002
Less than a decade after being annexed, some residents in eastern Meridian and the Bonita Lakes area say they still haven't received city sewer service or had their streets paved.
And now, they say, they can't believe city officials want to add more land and residents this time by taking in property north, east and west of Meridian's current boundaries.
Reece and hundreds of others became city residents in late 1994 after Meridian officials received approval from the Mississippi Supreme Court to annex about 10 square miles of land.
Last week, nearly eight years later, Meridian city leaders began their newest annexation effort. This time, city council members voted unanimously to start the process of adding 11.8 square miles of land.
New proposal
The new area would include the Jaycees soccer complex on Old Eighth Street Road, the G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Industrial Park and a new industrial park along Interstate 20/59.
The area also would include the upscale Eagle Pointe subdivision off Highway 39 North, Briarwood Country Club and its golf course and Lauderdale County's three Northeast schools.
Annexation procedures can take months or years to complete because they must be approved a chancery court judge. Annexation cases often end up before the state Supreme Court for final approval.
Meridian city leaders say the area they are eyeing is in the city's natural growth pattern.
A preliminary demographic data sheet prepared by city consultants Bridge &Slaughter shows that the annexation would add about 1,500 people and generate about $1.3 million in tax revenues.
City Councilman Bobby Smith, whose Ward 5 includes residents of the Bonita area annexed in 1994, said the proposed annexation will do more than add residents.
Services lacking
But some of the residents who were annexed in 1994 disagree. The Rev. Jerry Johnson, who lives on Hawkins Crossing south of U.S. 80, said all he got when he joined the city was more taxes.
Johnson said he still uses a septic tank and has never received the sewer service he was promised. He also said his property taxes and the cost of his car tag nearly doubled.
Both Johnson and Reece said they sympathize with residents who could be annexed next. Reece said he wouldn't want anyone to have to go through the aggravation.
What they said:
Here is what some residents who were annexed by Meridian in 1994 said concerning the city's proposal to annex about 1,500 new residents in Lauderdale County:
The Rev. Jerry Johnson,
resident of Hawkins Crossing Road
Ricky Robinson,
resident of Hawkins Crossing Road
Raymond Reece,
resident of Tanner Road