More acreage grabbed

By Karen Middleton
karen@athensnews-courier.com

February 15, 2008 10:18 pm

— State Sen. Tom Butler said Friday an annexation bill being introduced by him and Rep. Henry White is long overdue and will spark a dialog between Athens and Limestone County officials and surrounding municipalities.
The latest salvo in what came to be known in the mid-1980s as the annexation wars came Thursday night when the Huntsville City Council rushed through the annexation of 300 acres in anticipation of the bill’s passage.
The legislation would require a unanimous vote of the Limestone County Commission or a countywide vote to approve any annexations of Limestone land by outside municipalities. Such local legislation must be supported by the entire local delegation.
Huntsville’s grabbing of 300 acres came on the heels of Madison’s annexation of 1,400 acres Monday. Officials in both cities have said they made a move on the annexations, which have been discussed with landowners for as long as two years, because they feared passage of Butler and White’s bill.
“Whether it passes or not, it will hopefully begin a dialog and a debate that would be beneficial for everyone,” Butler said. “Hopefully, all concerned could get around a table and do some long-term planning. If Athens and Limestone County were to annex into Madison or Huntsville, their feelings would be the same as Limestone’s.”
Butler said the local delegation, which besides him and White includes Rep. Mac McCutcheon, R-Harvest; Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur; and Rep. Micky Hammon, R-Decatur, had gotten first blush of the bill in the past week and the members are digesting the ramifications of the legislation.
“We’re asking the Limestone County Commission and the Athens City Council to pass resolutions enumerating the reasons why this bill is needed,” Butler said.
He said the calls he’s been getting from the public, mainly from southeast Limestone, are generally opposed.
“In the Greenbrier and Segers Road areas that are close to the Madison and Huntsville city limits, they’re opposed,” he said. “The people out in the county don’t see it as an intrusion. The annexations of Madison and Huntsville last week were anticipated. It’s like David Seibert (commission chairman) said, ‘It’s like the Oklahoma land rush.’ We anticipated that response.”
Butler said the dialog between the governments is necessary because of questions arising around areas that have already been annexed.
“This should have been addressed a long time ago,” Butler said. “Huntsville and Madison have put in a lot of infrastructure with an eye to growth toward the interstate. Athens and Limestone County are losing control. There are the questions of police and fire protection, school lines, voting lines and school taxes.”

‘Gobbled up’
White said if he can get the bill out of committee he would be more optimistic.
“I haven’t talked to the other members of the delegation since they got their copies of the bill,” White said.
He said the calls he’s received have all been opposed.
“The main thing, is we’re trying to get them from coming into the county,” White said. “They have property rights, but we’re just being gobbled up.”
White said the version that goes to the floor of the House will likely be amended, but he feels it will be ready by Tuesday.
“There are some concerns about the Feb. 12 deadline and the unanimous vote of the commission,” White said.
Dist. 25 Rep. Mac McCutcheon said the legislation runs counter to state law.
“I am first concerned about protecting the rights of people to do what they want with their property,” said McCutcheon, whose district runs up to the east side of Mooresville Road, an area already heavily developed.
“Another thing is the unanimous vote,” he said. “I feel like a person has the right to do what he wants with his property without a government agency telling him what to do. Why not a majority vote? The west side’s needs are a lot different from the east side’s needs. A unanimous vote is pretty strong.
“In my district, where a lot of property is being developed, there is a concern about services, about whether Limestone County water can furnish the needs of those already living there.
“There is also the division of taxes in existing Madison and Huntsville. I still have questions before I give my stamp of approval either for or against.”
McCutcheon said state law mandates that no government can force a property owner to annex.
“It is up to the property owner to make the choice,” he said. “If some one wants to annex now (under the bill) it would be up to the County Commission. We’ve added another government agency to tell them what to do.”