Annexation talks result in 1 yes, 1 no

There was no discussion by city officials when annexation along Nashville Highway and Smithville Highway came before them Tuesday night – one passed the first reading and one did not.

Alderman Billy Wood was left with no second to his motion to move forward with the ordinance that would annex in the Nashville Highway area, as well as the resolution to adopt a plan of service for the area.

A second from a fellow alderman would have opened the subject up to discussion before a final vote could be made. Consideration of these areas ended, without discussion, when no second came for either the ordinance or resolution. Mayor Royce Davenport announced both measures ‘failed due to lack of second.’

Officials began discussing the annexation along Nashville Highway several months ago. The areas under consideration included 3.3 acres along Bridge Builders Road and 25.8 acres on the south side of Highway 70S, from H.T. Pelham Memorial Parkway and ending at Patton Road.

Having a different outcome than the first, Wood received a second when he moved to proceed with the ordinance that would annex areas along Smithville Highway and a resolution to adopt a plan of service.

After receiving a second followed by no discussion, both the ordinance and resolution passed unanimously. However, Vice Mayor Donald Hillis and Alderman Bobby Kirby were both absent.

Much like Nashville Highway, officials began discussing the annexation several months ago. The areas under consideration included two small parcels in the Northwood Lane area:

‘ One parcel, three acres along Northwood Lane, is almost completely surrounded by city limits and the other, two acres along Fairgrounds Road, has three sides connected to the city.

Unlike the Smithville Highway area, officials received some resistance from Nashville Highway landowners to being annexed.

The owner of Turner’s Auto Salvage, one of the areas considered in the Newtown annexation, came to the public hearing held before the board meeting to object.

‘I don’t see anything I’ll gain from this section of my business being in the city,’ said Charles Newport. He wasn’t against the area holding his main building being annexed, as that increased his police and fire protection. However, the back held only salvaged cars. Annexing that area would increase taxes, without benefits for him.

Newport was the only one to object at the hearing. During a separate public hearing for annexation along Smithville Highway, no one came forward to speak for or against.

Where a resolution for a plan of service only needs one pass before the board, an ordinance to annex needs two. The vote pertaining to annexation along Smithville Highway is scheduled for June 10.