jraymond@thewakullanews.net Sopchoppy city commissioners held a public hearing on Monday to discuss the possible annexation of areas east of the city.
The city commission has been approached by members of the Buckhorn community who want to be included in the city limits.
However, before the city can attempt to annex that area, they would have to annex 56 parcels that are east of the city, according to city attorney Dan Cox.
This annexation would have to be done because annexation has to be contiguous.
It would have to be done involuntary because of the size of the parcels, which is a consideration for annexation under Florida statues.
"The land further out doesn't qualify for voluntary annexation," said Jackie Lawhon, city clerk.
The city plans to hold a second public hearing on the annexation and then will vote on the ordinance.
If the ordinance passes, it will be put before city voters on a ballot in November.
Citizens of Sopchoppy as well as the residents of the proposed annexation area will be allowed to vote.
Of these votes, 51 percent must be in favor of the annexation for it to be enacted.
"Involuntary annexation has to be done before it can go any further," Lawhon said.
If the annexation does pass, then residents of the Buckhorn community would be able to approach the city about voluntary annexation.
The annexation of these areas doesn't sit well with some residents.
Evelyn Evans was at the meeting to express her opposition.
"The only opportunity would be the opportunity to vote," Evans said of the benefits to the residents of the proposed annexation areas.
And the only benefit to Sopchoppy is the added land, she said.
"I'm not for adding property into the city," she added.
City commissioner Jim Stokley said it is a benefit to Sopchoppy residents to expand the city limits.
"We can grow from there," Stokley said. "It's going to take some time. We have to remember Rome wasn't built in a day."
City commissioner Richard Harden said he isn't against annexation.
"To someone who wants to be in the city and to have a vote, that's not something I want to deny them," he said.
City commissioners agreed that the citizens inside the city deserve the right to vote on whether or not they want to expand the city limits.
Lawhon said the commission needs to look at whether or not adding this property is feasible for the city.
"What will it cost us and what will it gain us?" Lawhon said.
"It's going to cost you a lot more and you're going to get a lot less," she added.
Lawhon said she counted houses in the area to be annexed and came up with 27 houses for 56 parcels. She then did rough figures to see how much would be added because of them. In rough numbers, she said the added revenue would be $6,899. However, this does not include the additional services that will have to be provided, she said.
The consensus among the commission was to hold a second public hearing and eventually vote on the ordinance.
In another matter, the commission voted unanimously not to close undeveloped portions of Wakulla Street and Blossom Avenue.
The commission agreed to not close any streets or alleyways until they have a storm drainage plan in place for the city because access may be needed to those roads.
