What a Mess in Kingsport, Tennessee!
Kingsport, Tennessee’s City Manager, John Campbell, stated last night at the BMA meeting that Tennessee is one of a few states that have aggressive annexation polices. This was part of the response given to a gentleman that lived within the city when he basically told the city if the county residents did not want to be annexed, then they should not force annexation on them. There are many city residents that share this opinion as well I am sure county residents also.
I would like to state that I do not have a dog in this hunt. That is, I am not involved in the many lawsuits that the city have facing them or in an area that is being annexed. I am just a private citizen who is very concerned about what is happening in the area. Neighbors are against neighbors, citizens having many ill feelings towards the city, including both Kingsport citizens and county citizens.
While Tennessee’s Public Chapter 1101 may give cities the right to annex, it does not consider what some view as the ethical thing to do. Kingsport had a few choices, one was to put it up for a referendum and let the voters decide, and the other was to let the Board of Mayors and Alderman decide. The BMA chose the latter and it did not matter how much county residents felt about it, they voted to annex against the wishes of county residents. Kingsport should look at the organizational chart that shows the pecking order. The citizens/voters are the one that hired the BMA and hence should listen to their requests.
At the January 14, 2008, there was a request from the Citizen for Home Rule. Listed below is a portion of the minutes from that meeting. Kingsport chose not to do the referendum.
PUBLIC COMMENT. Mr. John Emison, 9212 Topoco Drive in Knoxville, stated he is president of Citizens for Home Rule, has filed the suits that block the Rock Springs annexations, and will be filing other lawsuits on behalf of citizens as annexations are passed. Mr. Emison urged the BMA to undo annexations already passed and proposed they look at annexation by referendum only. He stated that he is attending this work session at the invitation and in support of the Warrior Path annexation residents.”
The highhanded attitude of Kingsport is this is how it is going to be and we don’t care how you feel about it.. One day they propose extortion and the next day a referendum. The next election I think you will see many county residents coming forward to help candidates for the Board of Mayors and Alderman financially and helping them campaign.
Kingsport has many lawsuits that have been filed because of annexation. Now, Sullivan County may sue city over Fall Creek annexation. Kingsport’s response was to say that a suit by the county will hurt both city and county. Another newspaper had this to say about this issue. I think county residents are thankful that Sullivan County has taken an interest in what is happening concerning annexation with county residents. A single Metropolitan Government for the entire county would help solve some of these problems
The citizens of Tennessee do have another way to express their opinions concerning Tennessee’s annexation policy (Public Chapter 1101). They can let their elected officials in Nashville know how they feel about the annexation policy.
Needless to say, Kingsport, Sullivan County, and the State of Tennessee are getting the kind of attention that I don’t think they want. In very short period of time, this blog has been read by people locally and nationally. These viewers could be potential retirees, workers, or firms that might be thinking of relocating to the East Tennessee area.
Whew….what a mess!