Officials Blast Mayor’s Plan

Theodore Semmes Ten county and state officials blast Mayor Sam Jones' annexation plan.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Thu, August 21, 2008 - 5:00 pm CST Last Updated: Thu, August 21, 2008 - 5:02 pm CST

They're not throwing bags of tea in the Gulf, but "taxation without representation" is what some state and county officials are calling Mobile's annexation plan.

Two county commissioners, two school board members, five state lawmakers and Mobile County's sheriff signed a joint statement Thursday, blasting Mayor Sam Jones' proposal to add more than 4,000 residents and several rapidly growing commercial corridors to the city's roster.

"Clearly, these lines are not fair," said Sen. Ben Brooks, (R) District-35. "This manner has been brought forward is one of divisiveness," echoed Sheriff Sam Cochran.

Critics of the mayor's plan say it's a power grab for tax dollars, insisting the proposed annexation maps target voters in just a few select neighbors to decide the fate of several rapidly growing businesses, even though thousands more people will be effected by a 2% increase in sales tax.

"We want to let everyone who is shopping, who is lived, who is effected by this at least have a chance to vote," said Mobile County Commissioner Mike Dean, who represents District 3.

But, the mayor says allowing more people to vote isn't part of his plan, unless those people want to come into the city. When asked if he's admitting to drawing the lines to only include people who would vote for his proposal he said "that's logical, isn't it?"

Mayor Jones unveiled his annexation proposal last week during a meeting with the media. The proposal includes parts of the Theodore/Tillman's Corner area, a section of Moffett Road and three additional subdivisions: Windmill Place, Dominion and Wellington.

Jones expects the city council to set a date for a vote on the referendum during their August 26th meeting. The special election will only be open to voters who live in the areas on the annexation map.

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SHELLMID4LIFE Says:

Fri, Sep 05, 2008 at 7:53 am

JUDYH - I KNOW!!! The only reason I would want to be added to the city is to be able to vote him OUT!!

JudyH Says:

Fri, Sep 05, 2008 at 6:03 am

Hats OFF to our elected officials who are standing up for what is our fundamental rights as
American citizens!!!

JudyH Says:

Fri, Sep 05, 2008 at 6:01 am

SHELLMID4LIFE—The Mayor wants to replace the funds they would lose with funds that the schools were already GUARANTEED from the TK deal! LOL

SHELLMID4LIFE Says:

Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 7:21 am

So now the mayor wants to replace the funds the schools will lose to guarantee his annexation?...isn’t there a word for that? BRIBERY?!?!

JudyH Says:

Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 5:48 am

Corky—they did hold a meeting and all signed a statement (can be found here—> http://www.wkrg.com/news/flash_paper/8-21-08_mobile_annexed/)

Both Mike Dean and Steve Nodine, County Commissioners signed the statement. I take it that Mike Dean is your Commissioner.

Also the statement was signed by Sen. Ben Brooks, Sen. Rusty Glover, Sheriff Sam Cochran, State Rep. Jim Barton, State Rep. Chad Fincher, State Rep. Spencer Collier, School Board Members Bill Meredith and Ken Megginson.

Chuck Says:

Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 11:48 pm

Well The Way I SEE It LOOK OUT TILLMANS CORNER/
THEODORE FOR ALL THE DRIVE BY AN SCHOOL SHOOTINGS
That Will Be HApping In Your Area
Sam Jones Don’t Care About Our Schools Or The
People IN Our Area….
Its All About TAX Money HE Will Get FROM US…..

Chuck

JudyH Says:

Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 8:27 pm

Tax dollars going to the City of Mobile is equal to a HUGE black hole….. trying to satisfy a $185 Million dollar debt…..

The way I look at it is that I (living in the Semmes Community) didn’t get Mobile into a $185 Million dollar debt and I don’t want to help pay their way out of it!

By the way, Mobile’s Standard & Poors credit rating recently DROPPED!

Corky N Says:

Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 6:49 pm

What is this state comming to ? A mayor can choose voters to annex bussinesses he wants for their tax dollars.
A county commissioner, elected by the people of her district,cannot attend nor represent her district.
We have a commission president that seems to be looking for a pat on the back because he is trying to take credit for the hard work of many others, most programs were initiated by Commissioner Jockisch. We have alot of nerve calling this a democracy.

JudyH Says:

Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 5:46 pm

I can’t wait until the City Council meeting tomorrow morning. It is going to be very interesting to say the least!

There will be referendums for all of the areas that Mobile (Sam Jones) will be requesting to take to a vote.

You can bet the we’ll have the Semmes Community there voicing our opposition!

hfloyd Says:

Sun, Aug 24, 2008 at 2:56 pm

Maybe the Mayor and city officials should focus on keeping businesses in Mobile - several have left the City or planning to do so. In today’s paper (in the real estate section), it said that Batchelor’s Mechanical, currently on Old Shell, will build an 18,000sf facility and relocate its headquarters to Loxley. Maybe they figure that Old Shell, between HillCrest and Schillinger, will never be repaved!!!!