Brookhaven officials say things are moving smoothly six monthsafter an annexation that almost tripled the city’s size, but somenew residents remain unconvinced.

The annexation of 14.4 additional miles became final on July 1 -just under the deadline to collect taxes for the entire year fromthose living in the annexation area – and added several thousandpeople to the city’s population. Since then, city officials say theadded size has brought additional attention from businesses thatwould not have considered a town under 10,000 people.

Mayor Bob Massengill said he believes there has been progress inthe half year since the annexation took place.

“Obviously everyone is not thrilled with the annexation,” hesaid. “But the board and I and the other employees of the city arecommitted to helping make this work.”

Sandra Gerald, who was an avid spokesperson for the CitizensAgainst Annexation, said she is one of those who is not thrilled.And she said she has received feedback that she’s not alone in hersentiments.

Gerald said one thing she hears quite a few complaints on is thecost of taxes inside the city.

“All I can say is that … people are upset on the tax rate,”she said. “They’re all saying, ‘You tried to tell us and we didn’tlisten. And we just got our tax bill and I just don’t know howwe’re going to afford this.'”

Two of the city departments hit the hardest by the city’s growthin size are the police and fire departments. Both Police Chief PapHenderson and Fire Chief Bob Watts said their departments arehandling the changes quite well.

“It’s going fine,” said Henderson. “We have more activity, morecomplaints, and more paperwork, but we’re dealing with itgreat.”

Watts said his department has seen a small increase in activity,but not nearly what he had expected.

“Maybe there are a few more runs, but not like I would havethought there would have been; it’s not like they’ve doubled,” hesaid. “I guess it’s because we were already making some of thoseruns countywide anyway, so it hasn’t changed much.”

Henderson said there are things that needed to be done in theannexation areas that the city board could help with.

“There are some things we need some of the aldermen to do tosatisfy the people in the annexed areas,” he said. “But once we getsome of those things completed, things should go a little moresmoothly.”

Gerald said there are still other changes to be made as well,though she admitted to some improvements as well.

“They’ve made some strides with some street lights and thingslike that, but I’m anxious to see what kind of money they’ll haveto spend for the water lines they’re speaking of,” said Gerald,indicating a water and sewer project the city is currently workingon with engineers.

Massengill said the board’s selection of Williford Gearhart& Knight as the engineering firm to work on the project is agreat piece of progress for the city.

“I’m pleased the board has picked an engineer for the water andsewer work in the annexation areas,” he said Friday. “We plan towork on our priorities and plans next week.”

Massengill said other signs of progress can be seen in thatstrides are being made in manning the fire and policedepartments.

“We’ve purchased equipment and added personnel in severaldepartments, especially the fire and police, and that’s ongoing,”he said.

The process takes time, the chiefs said, with both departmentsneeding new members to be certified.

“It’s slow but it’s going OK,” said Henderson. “We’ve got to getthese men and women certified and done with the academy, and thatcan be a long process.”

Watts agreed. While his men have passed the initial physicalexam, he said they can work in the department in a learningcapacity until they pass the academy.

“We’re still working on that, it just takes so long to getpeople in the academy and graduated. It’s a long, drawn outprocess,” he said.

Watts said he has a few working now who are waiting on theacademy and a few waiting to take the physical.

The entire growing process is a long one, Massengill said, butone that will one day be looked at as not only necessary, butpositive.

“This was going on for 12 years before it became a reality,” hesaid. “But I honestly believe we’ll look back several years fromnow and see that this was a necessary step for a positive futurefor Brookhaven for generations to come.”

Gerald, however, stands her ground. She said that if cityofficials had been listening to the wants of the citizens theyserve, the annexation would never have gone through.

“I was born and grew up in Brookhaven, and I can’t believe thatthis many people didn’t want it and it didn’t matter,” she said.”Never in my wildest dreams did I think that would happen, becausethis isn’t Jackson or New Orleans. They’re supposed to listen towhat the people want.”

She said in her mind, the negatives of the annexation faroutweigh the positives.

“I don’t feel any different than I did, I’m not happy aboutbeing in the city,” she said. “If you can find anybody that wantsto buy my house, I’m ready to leave if that tells youanything.”