Staff photo - Deanna Allen As Barry Britt holds a map of the City of Auburn, Leroy Evans talks about future annexations

Despite objections from seven property owners, the Barrow County Board of Commissioners and State Rep. Terry England, Auburn's City Council voted 3-1 to annex 17 parcels into the city limits Thursday night.

Council Member Donna Scouten voted against the annexations.

Jodie Campbell with the law firm of Webb, Tanner, Powell, Mertz and Wilson, LLP, presented the proposal for the annexations, noting the Town of Carl annexed eight of the proposed parcels at its meeting on Tuesday and those properties would be removed from the list of those to be annexed into Auburn.

"It's an attempt to unify and streamline services," said Campbell, adding the annexation would eliminate the unincorporated islands within the city.

Seven of the 16 property owners to be annexed into the city addressed the council during the meeting and those seven all opposed the action. Six of the seven landowners said their properties became portions of unincorporated islands as a result of previous annexations. Teresa Casper, who was not facing annexation, said she would be part of an island as a result of the proposed annexations and also opposed to the action.

Two property owners asked the council about road maintenance and water lines, while others addressed services provided by the county and the preservation of their current land uses.

Donald Tuggle, who has lived in the area since 1987 said he has called 911 twice since that time and there has been no confusion of services, which were provided by Barrow County. "I don't have a vote now," he said, "but if I'm forced into the city I will have a vote then and I will remember this."

Ellen Wheeler, who owns and operates a farm said, "We don't want to be under the rules and regulations of the City of Auburn," adding she has vested rights as a farmer and should be allowed to keep those rights.

David Hawthorne, director of Public Works in Auburn, asked that he be allowed to request annexation in the Town of Carl, noting with Carl's annexations on Tuesday, 2/3 of his property is now bordered by Carl.

State Rep. Terry England addressed the Auburn council saying, "It grieves me tonight to witness the forced annexations of these parcels at the owner's objections.

"If these annexations move forward, I commit to you that I will do everything in my power as a state representative to make these people whole again in their rights as property owners.

"The right to own property is the basis of our American dream. Ownership and the rights that come with it should never, never be ignored by our government. Tonight you may take some of these rights away," said England, who noted that the annexations may have unintended consequences such as preventing the owner of a farm to use chicken litter as a fertilizer, permanently increasing the farmer's cost for fertilizer.

"In closing," said England, "these islands were created to profit another; they should not now come at the cost of those that are left."

Mayor Money responded to England's comments saying the city had the right to annex unincorporated islands under House Bill 489 and is encouraged to do so by the state. England told the mayor and council any island created after Jan. 1, 1991 is not considered an unincorporated island.

No one spoke in support of the proposed annexations.

Council Member Charles Sewell made the motion to approve the annexations and the motion was seconded by Dorissa Shackelford.

During discussion from the council, Linda Blechinger said she noticed the inconsistency of the city limits when first moving into Auburn and said the city needed a complete, solid city boundary.

Council member Dorissa Shackelford said she hopes landowners will continue their current use of their properties. "Speaking for myself," she said, "not only can they continue with what they now have, but also I hope that they continue with it as long as they and their descendants live. That would assure the low density I am seeking.

"The Council, as a whole, is doing this to eliminate duplication of services as is encouraged by the state," she said.

"I know that these property owners object, but I can not weigh the objections of a handful of folks over the good of 7,400 existing Auburn citizens. The same citizens... that would have to foot the bill for the impact of high-density housing in the islands," said Shackelford.

Sewell said he was willing to vote against some of the annexations, but given the statements made by county commissioners and activities that have taken place recent weeks, he wished he could have annexed the properties Carl annexed as a buffer to what the Town of Carl has become, adding Commissioner Isaiah Berry's property would fit in well in Carl. Sewell also noted islands were created as property owners requested annexation into the City of Auburn.

Following the meeting, Scouten, who voted against the annexations, said she firmly believed citizens so opposed to annexation should not be forced into the city. "I see no reason to do it," she said.

Chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners Doug Garrison, who was present at the Auburn meeting, said the county will draft another round of complaints regarding the annexations. He said the county's open records request to the City of Auburn has generated some questions as to whether Auburn followed proper procedure in its actions.

Originally published Sunday, November 19, 2006