By Staff
COUNTY LIFE Clay Garrett, left, and Milton Jenkins look over the Garrett family's 40-acre farm in north Lauderdale County, land that nearby Marion hopes to annex. Garrett and Jenkins are members of the Concerned Citizens of North Lauderdale County, a group fighting the annexation. Photo by Fredie Carmichael/The Meridian Star
By Fredie Carmichael/The Meridian Star
Nov. 13, 2001
A group of north Lauderdale County residents wants no part of the town of Marion because they said the city overtaxes and under-serves its citizens.
The Concerned Citizens of North Lauderdale said an upcoming annexation court case has cost Marion more than $50,000. The case is between Marion, Meridian and Lauderdale County.
Jenkins and other members of the group plan to attend a 6 p.m. meeting tonight at Marion Town Hall. They hope to talk with Marion residents about the city's attempt to annex part of north Lauderdale County.
Marion Mayor Malcolm Threatt would not discuss details today of the town's proposed annexation plans including what specific areas of Lauderdale County city officials want to add.
City wants growth
Threatt said the annexation attempt is to "expand the boundaries of the city and better serve the community." He said the city has spent more than $50,000 on the case "over a period of time."
Jenkins said that the city has used some of the fees it collects for water service to help find the annexation court case. He said that Marion overcharges its residents for water.
Marion pays the city of Meridian 67 cents for a thousand gallons of water for sewer treatment. Marion, in turn, charges its residents $2.80 for a thousand gallons.
Charlotte Rasco, town clerk for Marion, said that most of the $2.13 the city pockets for every thousand gallons of water residents use helps fund maintenance of water lines.
Marion prepares maps
Marion has developed three different maps showing possible annexation scenarios for the Dec. 10 annexation court date.
Jenkins said that he and other residents are happy living in the county. He said they already have access to a good volunteer fire department, trash collection, water service and cable television.
Clay Garrett, another member of the concerned citizens group, said some of the land Marion wants to annex is not for sale, is unavailable for commercial use and would not generate sales tax revenue for the city.
Fredie Carmichael is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3228, or e-mail him at fcarmichael@themeridianstar.com.