Brookhaven aldermen Tuesday received a second petition against aproposed annexation, but city officials said residents’ questionsand concerns were premature.

The petition included over 200 signatures from residents, manyfrom areas west of town.

“I don’t see where we’re going to get any more services that wealready have,” said Danny Dunaway, a Highway 550 resident who spokefor several citizens attending last night’s meeting.

Dunaway mentioned higher taxes, city firearm prohibitions andhigher taxes’ impact on older residents with fixed incomes. Heurged city officials to think about older residents whenconsidering other aspects of annexation.

“You’re putting an awful blow on their incomes,” Dunawaysaid.

While Tuesday’s petition included the same wording an earlierpetition from some Lakewood Village residents, a good portion ofHighway 550 is not included in the latest proposed annexation area.Referring to an old map that included a 36-square mile annexationarea, Dunaway questioned why the city was pursuing such a largearea.

City officials said the map Dunaway had was outdated. CityAttorney Joe Fernald said the costs to service that large an areawould have been “astronomical.”

“At this point, that has been constricted considerably,” Fernaldsaid.

According to a preliminary plan presented in July, the citywould expand from the current 7.3 square miles to 21.6 squaremiles. The largest area considered for annexation is south of thecity, although areas on all sides are included in the proposedplan.

In terms of population, the city would increase from 9,861people to 13,123 people, according to preliminary data. Of the newtotal, 50.5 percent would be black and 48.4 percent white, whilethe current city population is 51.4 percent black and 47.6 percentwhite.

Fernald said city officials have not officially adopted anyproposed annexation plan. Therefore, residents objections at thispoint are premature.

Mayor Bill Godbold said officials are looking at adopting a planfor submission to chancery court after the first of the year.Public hearings are required in the annexation process and cityfathers pledged that citizens would have an opportunity to voicetheir concerns.

Other issues mentioned last night included school district andvoting concerns.

It was not totally clear whether students in an annexed areacould stay in the county school district or would have to come intothe city district. Officials indicated that current county schoolstudents could “grandfathered” and allowed to stay, but newstudents in the annexed areas would have to be in the city schooldistrict.

Regarding voting, citizens in proposed annexed areas will nothave a voting voice in the matter.

“They will be able to say what they want to say to oppose it,but they can’t vote,” Fernald said.

Maintaining black voting strength was another issue addressedlast night. Ward 3 Alderman the Rev. Jerry L. Wilson said he andfellow black aldermen Terry Bates of Ward 2 and Dorsey Cameron ofWard 1 will have to be on board with any plan.

“If it’s not to my satisfaction, I’m going to kick against it,”Wilson said.

Citizens last night mention obtaining an attorney to representthem in annexation matters. Fernald said they could get one now,but indicated he would not be needed until an annexation plan isadopted.

In other business Tuesday, aldermen declined to exercise areverter clause on the closed Auburn Sportswear building that saysthe building comes back to the city if the building closed. Lastnight’s board action will allow the chamber of commerce tonegotiate for six months with a prospect interested in thebuilding.

“We’re really asking to be in the same situation we’ve been infor the last 20 years with that facility,” said Chandler Russ, thechamber’s executive vice-president.

Russ did not identify the prospect. Fernald said language wouldhave to be included to show that the city does not give up itsreverter rights in future deeds on the building.

Also Tuesday, the board voted to seek bids for city weldingservices.

Boyd’s Steel, which the city uses frequently because of fastservice, does not have worker’s compensation insurance and, becauseof its size, is not required to have it under state law. However, acity ordinance says all vendors for the city must have it.

Records show the city spending over $23,000 since August 2000 atthe welding business and spending $1,700 to cover insurancepremiums for the work done.

Insurance Agent Mike Smith said Boyd, who was not present lastnight, had offered to reimburse the city for future workerscompensation coverage. Smith said Boyd getting a policy of his ownwould greatly increase his fees.

City Clerk Iris Rudman said the state audit department “frowns”on reimbursement arrangements. Bates also expressed concerns aboutsetting a precedent in how they deal with Boyd’s.

“He need to play by the same rules as everybody else,” addedAlderman-at-large Les Bumgarner.

Following the vote to seek bids, aldermen agreed to continue the”calculated risk” and use Boyd’s for welding work. The risk isthat, if there is an injury, it would reflect on the city’sinsurance coverage, Smith said.