Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Collegedale is continuing ongoing annexation efforts within the city’s urban growth boundaries by unanimously approving the annexation of approximately 50 land parcels on a first reading at its most recent city commission meeting.
The tracts of land divided into six zones and slated for annexation include areas along McDonald Road near its intersection with Tallant Road, McDonald Road along both sides of its intersection with Apison Pike, Jetrail Drive, between Watkins Street and Ooltewah-Ringgold Road and along both Camp and Standifer Gap roads.
A public hearing as well as a second and final reading on these annexations is scheduled for the Monday, March 18 meeting of the City Commission.
In addition to completing these annexations, Vice Mayor Tim Johnson expressed his desire to continue annexing properties into the city after this round has been completed.
“I would like to see us continue with the annexation we’ve been doing over the last six months to 12 months,” he said. “I would like to see us go on down Ooltewah-Ringgold Road.”
City Manager Ted Rogers said that is definitely coming and will probably happen within the year.
The tax rate for unincorporated areas in Hamilton County is $2.7652 per $100 of assessed value. Annexation into the city adds an additional $1.34 of taxes to local residents, which means they are required to pay a total of $4.1052 per $100 of assessed value.
Along with annexation into the city, residents and businesses receive access to services provided by the city. A full list of services offered is available at www.collegedaletn.gov.
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Comments
Collegedale is annexing while the annexing is good. The Tennessee Legislature may have other ideas, like returning to citizens the right to vote whether or not to be annexed. Rep. Mike Carter's HB 475 passed from the Local Government Committee to the Finance Committee of the Tennessee House yesterday. If/when it passed the Finance Committee, it will go to the Ways and Means Committee for a final determination of whether or not it will go to the House Floor. The Tennessee Municipal League, with some of its leadership from Collegedale, is pulling out all stops to kill this bill. Property owners who want to defend their rights need to find out who is on the Finance and Ways and Means Committees and press them to pass this bill returning power to the people, where it belongs.
Forced annexation is a legal way for municipalities to extract revenue from your property. This abusive practice is only authorized in three states: Idaho, Indiana and Tennessee. Legislation is currently under way to eliminate this in Idaho and Indiana. It would be detrimental if we became the only state in America that allows annexation without citizen approval. If 49 states require a referendum for annexation, why shouldn’t we?
Fortunately, Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah, a politician for the people, has introduced HB475 to address this issue. This bill is long over due. I urge everyone to stop this unorthodox practice and support this legislation. If you care about the constitution, our bill of rights, and our liberty, then by all means you should have the right to vote on something as important as municipal annexation. Our founders made this very clear when they wrote our constitution!
There is nothing more important than our property rights. When we are faced with possible annexation, it is paramount that we are entitled to vote if we chose to become part of a municipality. This is the democratic process. We deserve the right of choice. John Jay, first chief justice of the United States, stated: “No power on earth has a right to take our property from us without our consent.”