County Commissioner John Brooks said plans by Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield for a new round of annexations are "ill-conceived and ill-timed."

He said with the down economy, it is not the time to be adding to the tax burden of local citizens.

He also said the city is stressed to provide certain services, including adequate police protection, to the current citizens it has.

Also, County Commissioner Larry Henry was critical of the city's annexation moves.

He told the Pachyderm Club that a number of county residents already have many basic services - except for garbage service. He said, "You could buy a lot of garbage service for the higher taxes you will be paying."

He said he "hates to pay taxes," and does not want an added tax burden.

Commissioner Brooks said:

"One issue that is coming in front of the Chattanooga City Council in the near future is that of annexation of parts of Harrison, East Brainerd and Hixson. As a Hamilton County Commissioner, I realize that whether or not the City of Chattanooga annexes more territory is not an issue that I have a vote, but as a Hamilton County Commissioner whose district includes part of five (5) different City Councilpersons’ districts, and as a citizen of the City of Chattanooga, I do feel that I am entitled to at least an opinion in regards to this annexation.

"I feel strongly that this is not the time for annexation. The fact that the City of Chattanooga has insufficient funds to provide the services needed to its current citizens makes me wonder what benefit the citizens of Chattanooga receive by annexing thousands of more citizens of Hamilton County.

"The City of Chattanooga has great difficulty in providing adequate police protection to the citizens of Chattanooga. I know in the area of Chattanooga where I live, St. Elmo, crime is the major concern.

"I know that in other areas of my district such as Missionary Ridge, Highland Park, Eastlake, Sunnyside, Moccasin Bend and Eastside, that crime is the major issue. How will it help when the City is already rationing funds for law enforcement to annex many hundreds of acres of land and thousands of people to an already overstretched and underfunded police department?

"Where will the funds come from to expand fire protection to these new areas? In East Lake and the Cedar Hills (part of my district), it is essential to build a new fire station. If this annexation occurs, this action will be put off for many years due to the need to build fire stations in areas being annexed.

"We have seen recycling cuts, which leads directly to greater amounts of garbage going into our landfills. Unless the city expands it’s recycling efforts, we will soon face a huge problem of what to do with our garbage once the landfill is full.

"Solving problems like this is where the citizens of Chattanooga and Hamilton County want our leaders to spend both their time, and our money.

"I also wonder about the timing of this annexation. With the country in the midst of a recession, it will bring an extra tax burden upon thousands of individuals at a moment in time when they have the least ability to absorb it.

"While I understand that growth is necessary, I feel that the annexation attempt is ill timed and ill conceived.

"While I have no direct vote in regards to the annexation, I will clearly be speaking out against this, and I will do everything in my power to convince my fellow commissioners and City Council members that this is an ill-conceived and ill-timed act.

"I find the choice areas to be annexed extremely perplexing. In the highway 58 area, the entire area which borders the lake and Tennessee River is excluded from annexation.

"This is extremely valuable property for tax purposes. Fire and police responders would need to go several miles right by this area to service other areas (which are much further north) which are to be annexed.

"You would annex a large area of homes, 30 years old or older, to reach Hunter Road. Again, fire and police responders would only service the south side of Hunter Road. This is interesting because the area on the North side of Hunter Road is growing quickly.

"Again, police, fire and garbage would go right by a fast growing area which is across the street.

"Examine the facts, there is more to this than initially meets the eye.
I realize how difficult some political decisions are.

"I realize that there are many points of views to be considered in most political acts such as this, but I think that the annexation at this point is ill conceived, and I felt that it was my duty, both as a citizen and as a fellow elected official, to let you know what my thoughts were about it and to realize that I will diligently oppose this annexation."

Sincerely,
John Allen Brooks
Hamilton County Commissioner
District 6
Chattanooga City Resident