Dear Mayor Littlefield,
We are proud residents of Hamilton County. On Sept. 29, the City Council voted to annex our subdivision.

We are active supporters of HCRAA and it is our understanding that this organization is planning to file litigation to halt the annexation process. We have already donated to the cause, as has our entire subdivision, voting to tax ourselves to support legal efforts.

And while we are confident that our legal actions to stop the annexations will be successful, we would not be prudent fiscal agents of our family income if we did not plan for the worst case scenario: in this case, double taxation. As such, we have a few questions and as newly annexed residents of the city of Chattanooga, we are asking you to respond:

1) We have computed what our new city of Chattanooga property taxes will be based on the tax rate published in the Times Free Press a few weeks ago. So, in theory, when are these new taxes due?

2) Do we get to pay over time or are they due in one lump sum? Are they paid in advance or in arrears?

3) Are you planning to inform your "new residents" of the process?

4) Do you contact our mortgage company to tell them the amount or do we? Given that it is Tennessee state law that property taxes be put in escrow or you pay an additional fee at purchasing, it would seem to us the burden would be on the city to take care of this task.

5) At what point do we start calling the Chattanooga Police Department with safety issues and not the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office?

6) When do we start getting the one free service for annexation: trash pickup? When can we expect our trash cans to be delivered?

7) How do we go about requesting recycling cans?

8) Do we have to get the city car sticker now, or does that wait until we renew our registrations next year?

9) Who do we call to complain about potholes on city streets, cracks in the sidewalks and burnt out street lighting. We travel these roads to work daily (where we contribute to the tax base with sales tax purchases) and we notice a lot of them.

As you can see, we have a lot of questions about being residents of the city of Chattanooga, the least of which is why do you want us against our will? But that's a question for another day.

We often tell our children to be careful what they ask for; they just might get it. We think the same should apply to the city as it embarks on this newest chapter in our community's history. You may call HCRAA a small spark of resistance but like the rebels during the Revolutionary War: we are mighty and we are determined. And make no mistake about it: our voices will be heard and we are in it for the long haul.

We look forward to hearing your response to our questions.

Dennis and Danielle Clark