By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Aug. 8, 2002
By the time Meridian's attorneys withdrew their objection in the Marion annexation case Wednesday, Marion had lost 80 more acres of land.
After a few individual objectors including Milton Jenkins who owns nearly 80 acres east and west of Highway 45 were taken out of Marion's annexation plans, it left Marion with less than 300 acres of annexed land.
After the final agreement was hashed out between attorneys representing both incorporated communities in Lauderdale County, the city of Meridian was excused from the case.
Meridian officials began their objection of Marion's proposed annexation in Lauderdale County Chancery Court on Monday. Marion initially wanted to annex 3.1 square miles of land east, south, northeast and northwest of the town's limits.
Lawyers for the city of Meridian will now file a proposed annexation ordinance approved by the council and await a hearing date.
The Meridian City Council announced its intention to annex property in all four directions at a July 16 meeting. The area in the proposed annexation area 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 on Old Eighth Street Road and three Northeast Lauderdale schools.