By By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
May 3, 2001
For the first time since the Bonita area was annexed several years ago, Mayor John Robert Smith hinted Wednesday about the city's newest annexation plans.
Smith made his remarks only minutes after a study was presented to the Meridian City Council by the Stennis Institute for Government. The study found that Meridian has too few large parcels of land for subdivisions.
It was commissioned on behalf of the Grow Meridian Team formed by Smith to recommend solutions to the city's declining population.
Smith said the city's annexation plans have never been kept secret, and that plans for future annexation depend on when workers complete the delivery of water and sewer service to the newly annexed Bonita area.
The city has already completed the first phase of its delivery of utilities to the Bonita area and engineering firms are currently at work to advance the second phase.
Smith declined to give any specifics about where annexation could occur next, except to say it will probably follow the city's "natural growth path."
The mayor did point out that the city seems to be growing toward the north, where city leaders just took bids for a new one-million gallon water tank that is expected to support growth in that part of town.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3226, or e-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.