By By Kerry Whipple Bean – publisher
Brewton's geographic area would grow by about 70 percent under a new annexation proposal unveiled at the city council meeting Tuesday night.
The plan would add another 8.62 square miles to the city limits and add an estimated 1,321 people to the city's population.
Council members set a public hearing on the proposal, which they could approve as soon as next month. If they approve the plan, they would then ask the Legislature to approve the annexation.
Brewton attorney Broox Garrett, who led the annexation committee that studied the issue, presented the plan to the council.
Following current patterns of population growth, Garrett said the committee decided the best place to annex would be north.
A public meeting, to be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, in the community center behind city hall, will give residents a chance to give input on the plan, said annexation committee member Pete Diurno.
After the public hearing, the council could approve the proposal at its meeting Dec. 12, giving officials enough time to get the matter on the agenda for the regular legislative session in early 2007.
A final step in the process would be U.S. Justice Department approval, Garrett said.
In his presentation, Garrett answered a number of questions that would be raised by the proposed annexation, including: