Annexation without taxation?

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A crowd of about 100 showed up for a Meigs town meeting Saturday morning. Patti Dozier/Times-Enterprise

July 31, 2010

Patti Dozier CNHI The Times Enterprise Sat Jul 31, 2010, 06:56 PM EDT

MEIGS — A Meigs City Council member told about 100 citizens Saturday that if property is annexed into the Thomas County town, “it’s going to be annexation without taxation.”

Council Member Orville Creager also told the crowd he would not say he would vote for annexation.

For example, the council member said, if agricultural land is annexed, it would not be taxed as long as it remained agricultural. “If he (the landowner) decides to put in a housing development, he would pay taxes,” Creager explained.

“Residents of annexed areas would be required to pay for city services,” Meigs Mayor Andy Wurst said. “ ... Eventually, somebody will have to pay.”

Wurst requested that people with concerns go to city hall and speak to him individually about their particular situation.

“If you’re totally negative and don’t want to cooperate, be isolated out there and continue doing like you’re doing,” the mayor said.

Annexation is not planned for the immediate future. City officials are planning for 20 to 25 years from now.

Anne Hickey, who resides on Ga. 3 outside the Meigs city limits, asked why she should have to pay to “fix up” Meigs.

Thomas County and state governments will spend money on a truck bypass around Meigs if there is not enough land for the road, Creager explained.

Stimulus money will become available, and Meigs needs to take advantage of it, the council member added.

He said people are interested in establishing businesses and subdivisions in Meigs.

“And we’re here today to let you know we want to grow,” Wurst said

Officials said no one can be forced into the city through annexation.

A man in the audience said he had never heard of annexation without taxation.

Wurst said he could not guarantee that Riverwind subdivision near Meigs would not be taxed if annexed. Taxation would be decided by a city council vote, he explained.

A woman who has lived in Meigs for 16 years said the town is a “laughing stock.”

“I just think we should listen and try to be open,” she told fellow citizens, calling on residents to pull together to try to improve the town and return it to its former status as a progressive Thomas County city.

Hickey told the woman, “You need to be talking to your neighbors and see what they say.”

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Annexation without taxation?

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