In today's Commercial Appeal, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell testified before a state committee supporting annexation by vote of the annexed residents. Now, this is not in the best interest of Memphis or any other municipality. A political person like myself, would call this a "preserving the base" move. Who is the base? Glad you asked: The majority republicans in unincorporated areas.
Luttrell was quoted as saying, "As I watched the confusion, consternation and anxiety surrounding that, I just thought there’s got to be a more harmonious way of meeting the needs of all concerned,” Luttrell said. As a result — and in preparation for his TACIR presentation — the Mayor said he spoke with the Mayors of all seven Shelby cities and local planners to gather information.
He adds, “There seems to be a general consensus that annexation by referendum is preferred, and I’ll start by saying that’s my position. I do think that being one of the few states that has not embraced annexation by referendum, that we’re somewhat behind the 8-ball and that we could in large part relieve a great deal of the anxiety surrounding any annexation by moving forward with annexation by referendum,” he said.
“(With) our current process, there are serious questions about whether due process is followed when major decisions are made and people who are affected by those decisions do not have input into that process. I think many consider that a flaw in the system.”
Mayor Luttrell your comments do not represent the best interest of Memphis. How can you represent Shelby and disregard what's best for Memphis, the largest city and the major economic force in the county? How do you speak for Memphis and infer that you spoke to the seven municipal mayors about your position and Mayor Wharton is not aware of such a conversation. Having talked with Mayor AC Wharton today about this issue, he stated that he is unaware of the seven Mayors that were referred to in this article because Luttrell did not talk to him and he is opposed to referendums for annexations.
The annexations lines and territories were assigned to municipalities over 20 years ago. If you bought property in a municipality that was a reserve of Memphis, property owners knew one day the City would claim its property. Memphis paid for the infrastructure and now that is is fully developed, Memphis should have the ability to annex that investment. If you bought into our reserves that was on "you" . But to change the rules in the middle of the game is a slap in the face of the citizens that helped to invest in that area and its potential growth. A vote by the residents does not protect the towns and cities whose taxpayers funded the expansion of utilities and roads into the areas. For example the extension of sewer lines into Gray's Creek was a Memphis investment into that area.
Memphis deserves to be represented in these discussions and since we can't count of Mayor Luttrell on this issue will Mayor Wharton please step up? Communicate the City's position on this issue for the consideration of the committee.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/aug/22/shelby-county-mayor-favors-referendums-for/?partner=RSS
