SUMITON–The Sumiton City Council on Tuesday morning heard from several residents of the Crestview subdivision who do not want to be annexed into the city. Mayor Petey Ellis said the city had been approached by several homeowners in the area as well as at least one business that wanted to be annexed into the city limits and the city was working to accommodate that request. Ellis stressed that no one would be forced into the city.
“We have not proposed annexation of any property without being asked,” Ellis said.
The homeowners at the meeting were represented by spokesperson Lynn Giedinghagen. They expressed concern over who would be responsible for maintenance of the street, as well as concerns over what emergency services would respond if the residents needed police, fire or medical assistance. Giedinghagen also said she was not interested in Sumiton Fire and Rescue lower ISO rating, because her insurance company and some others no longer use that and she had spoken to realtors who did not think living in the city would increase the value of her home.
Ellis said the answers to all of that would be determined by whether the address had been annexed or not. Fire Chief David Waid said it was likely that both Bagley Fire and Rescue and Sumiton Fire and Rescue would respond, as well as Sumiton Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies, if there was an issue. Waid’s department and Bagley have a long-standing mutual aid agreement and often provide additional manpower on scene even now.
The homeowners were also concerned about the school zoning and specifically that they did not want their kids to go to Walker County Schools, but Ellis said the area would remain in Jefferson County so the children would still be zoned for Jefferson County. The changing of the city limits, does not impact the county limits and those would remain unchanged. Currently, portions of Sumiton are in Walker and Jefferson counties.
Ellis told the homeowners that he believed the city could do a lot of good for them, but they wouldn’t be forced into the city, despite what their neighbors decide.
“If you don’t want to be in the city, we don’t want you,” Ellis said of the city’s annexation plans. “We’re not trying to sneak anything in on you.”
He did caution the homeowners that other cities, including Graysville have been making annexation moves and plans into the Sayre/Bagley area and that someone likely would try to pull the area into a city rather than letting it remain unincorporated.
There will be a public hearing on the matter at a future date, but Ellis said that had not been set yet.
