Annexation Update

The Public Affairs Committee had their last meeting on August 30, 2007. After meeting, with the Board’s attorney, it was decided that the Board would no longer pursue incorporation. The attorney’s position, after a lot of research, was that the possibility of success is about 10%. The cost involved in incorporating is not feasible therefore that aspect of its work has been terminated by the committee. The information obtained from Hide-A-Way Lake, Texas has been put together and it will be on file in the office in the future should there be a need to revisit the subject of incorporation.

However, it was decided that a letter from our Board would be sent to our state legislator encouraging them to enact a bill which would allow communities about to be annexed by neighboring municipalities to have a binding referendum on whether or not they want to consent to the annexation. Currently, there is no such legislation in our state law. As it is right now, communities have no vote, no voice, and no consent. In fact, they are not even notified directly that an annexation is being considered. Instead, it is published in the newspaper but some working knowledge of land descriptions is necessary to recognize that an annexation is eminent. On September 26, 2007, the Board of Directors mailed a letter regarding this to Governor Haley Barbour, Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck, Senator Sidney Albritton, Senator Ezell Lee, Representative Herb Frierson, and Representative Mark Formby. The Board of Directors would like to request the property owners to also mail our legislators a letter requesting their assistance in this matter. For your convenience, you may click here to download and complete the letter. Below are the legislators mailing addresses.

Governor Haley Barbour

Post Office Box 139

Jackson, MS 39205

Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck

Post Office Box 1018

Jackson, MS 39215

Senator Sidney Albritton

Post Office Box 1389

Picayune, MS 39466

Senator Ezell Lee

407 Country Club Drive

Picayune, MS 39466

Representative Herb Frierson

12 Trailwood Ln.

Poplarville, MS 39470

Representative Mark Formby

911 Highway 43 North

Picayune, MS 39466