Meridian, Marion reach agreement

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Aug. 7, 2002
An annexation squabble between Meridian and Marion ended in a settlement Tuesday, with Marion getting less than half of the land it wanted.
The mayors of the only two incorporated communities in Lauderdale County had squared off in Chancery Court on Monday. The two sides wanted to annex overlapping areas in what they considered their natural growth paths.
They reached a compromise in the second day of hearings. The settlement will stand if the judge approves the compromise today.
The Marion Board of Aldermen also met and approved the settlement.
Marion announced its annexation plans in September 1999, a plan that would have taken in 3.1 square miles east, south and northwest of its current town limits.
In the compromise, Marion would get only one-half square mile of land, including the new Southern Oaks subdivision just south of Old Country Club Road and land northeast along Highway 45.
Marion Mayor Malcolm Threatt declined to comment.
Meridian's mayor said he couldn't be happier about the settlement.
The Meridian City Council announced its intention to annex property in all four directions at a July 16 meeting. The area in this proposed annexation includes 634 homes and 51 businesses, Briarwood Country Club, Eagle Pointe, a new industrial complex along Interstate 20/59, the G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Industrial Park, the Jaycee Soccer Complex and three Northeast Lauderdale schools.
Meridian officials got what they wanted with the exception of Southern Oaks subdivision which went to Marion.