By By MARY-ALLISON LANCASTER – Managing editor
The city of East Brewton is looking to expand its city limits by annexing a portion of land into the city.
During the regularly scheduled council meeting on Monday, the mayor and city council members approved the go ahead for Lawton Shipp, who oversees community development in East Brewton, to develop a Plat map, which is a map of a town, section or subdivision that indicates the location and boundaries of individual properties.
There are two ways an annexation can be approved. The annexation can be passed with a vote by the landowners, or it can be passed through the Legislature. Mayor Terry Clark said he was told by Rep. Skippy White (D-Pollard) that if a Plat map was drawn up with and accompanied by a resolution, the annexation could be passed without a vote from the landowners.
Clark said that the city is looking to annex the left hand side of Highway 41 toward Riverview. City Clerk Karen Singleton said that the other side of Riverview has already been annexed.
The purpose of annexing that particular area is for several reasons, Clark said Monday night.
The total amount of acreage that would be annexed into the city was undetermined Monday evening, but Clark said that the annexation would bring in six different landowners, including a trailer park and three businesses.
According to the 2006 budget that was passed by the council, the city brings in more than $1 million in sales tax revenue. The three businesses that the council are hoping to bring into the city would only increase its revenue.
Singleton said that Shipp will proceed to the court house where he will gather land records to develop a Plat map. Clark appointed Councilman Henry Hooks and Councilman Wayne Howard to a committee that would oversee the annexation process and Shipp's progress.
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