To Annex or Not to Annex

Memphis, Tn - What's of more importance? The future growth and expansion of a city or destroying the serenity of cherished suburban life-styles through the process of annexation. For Memphis Mayor A C Wharton and city council members the choice is clear.

"Look at the history of annexation. It's about stories of cities that did not control their boundaries and therefore start to wither. That's why state law gives cities the right to annex," said Wharton.

But, if the proposed Norris-Todd 2 bill, which would give the county control over precious annexation reserve areas, rears it's head again in the Tennessee General Assembly, what's been state law could be turned upside-down.

A prospect liberal blogger, Steve Steffens, asserts is motivated by just one goal, "They're trying their best to kill Memphis."

But, the flap over the proposed city annexation of Gray's Creek-Fisherville area is just a replay of the combative history such hostile takeovers are bound to create. Court battles stalled out the annexation of Hickory Hill for 11 years. Cordova was taken in chunks, spanning years and not without bitterness.

By comparison, Chimmney Rock and Countrywood surrendered without much fight.

Yet, while urban sprawl oozes ever farther east, the idea that we maybe stretching our city services beyond its capabilities (i.e. the rise in crime that has ensued in Hickory Hill) is and should be a concern, especially if the Gray's Creek annexation effort is spawned more out of a fear of Nashville shenanigans than a real investment in planned growth.

But, all of this goes back to a basic premise, as Steffens notes, wouldn't it be better if the county and the city worked together to make Memphis stronger. Instead of forcing each other into courses of action based on knee jerk reactions.