Mayor Ron Littlefield told Chattanooga City Council members on Tuesday that he is willing to suspend some of the annexation plans for the Stonewall Farms, Hurricane Creek and Windstone subdivisions on a big condition. Underscoring the word ‘suspend' during his remarks, the mayor said he would do so on the condition that county leaders come to the table and begin discussing consolidation of city and county governments.
"I think that with the growth and development that this community is finally experiencing—we're experiencing not just as a city, but as a region—and consequently, we need to simplify," Mr. Littlefield concluded at the end of the council meeting.
Council Chair Jack Benson asked whether the mayor was describing metro government. Mr. Littlefield laughed, and said, "You keep using that inflammatory language, Mr. Chairman."
"There are three things—utilities, tax equity, and consolidation of government—that need to be discussed, and we have plenty of time to do this," he said. "We don't need to take quick action, but we need to begin."
At the beginning of Tuesday's meeting, the City Council approved a resolution calling on the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners to "equitably fund services" for unincorporated areas of the county without relying on underwriting from the incorporated tax base in cities like Chattanooga, Red Bank and East Ridge. Specifically, the resolution urges the county to establish fire districts, and levy an annual tax on unincorporated property owners to pay for volunteer fire departments. The council voted 8-0 in favor of the resolution. Councilwoman Carol Berz was absent.
The resolution was submitted by the mayor, in part, as a reaction to recent posturing by County Commissioners. Last Thursday, the County Commission passed a formal resolution criticizing the city for annexation. The county's resolution states, "Annexation would not provide those communities with any substantial services and benefits that are presently unavailable to them."
Councilman Andraé McGary said the county's recent condemnation, which did not recognize known tax inequities, was "deplorable," and that framing the annexation debate in city vs. county terms is short-sighted. "We are all citizens of the county," he said.
The City Council also approved two more annexations on first reading for Areas 10A and 10B, both in East Brainerd. The votes, according to the Times Free Press, were 7-1. Councilman Russell Gilbert voted 'no' on both.
David Morton
Comments (0)
Comments are closed.