On Tuesday, residents seeking to de-annex themselves from the new city of Mableton received another blow.
After failing to stop cityhood at the ballot box last fall, residents against incorporation had also come up short in this year’s legislative session, when lawmakers couldn’t reach an agreement on legislatively de-annexing parts of the city.
This week, Aaron Carman, their candidate for mayor, lost to Michael Owens in the mayoral runoff election.
But the movement is not letting up. Non-legislative de-annexation avenues are still available, and a lawsuit challenging the city could be coming.
Local de-annexation
Under state law, there are two ways to de-annex from a city. One is the legislative route, which came to naught this year.
The second route is when 100% of property owners in an area requesting de-annexation sign a petition and submit it to the mayor and city council, which then has to accept the request.
A third route, via the county commission, may be created by House Bill 374, which passed in the recent session. Gov. Brian Kemp has not yet signed the bill.
Mableton’s mayor and council are expected to be sworn in next month, while the city charter indicates the city will go into full effect June 1.
Mayor-elect Michael Owens told the MDJ Friday de-annexation is not his focus right now.
“Right now, I’m thinking about the 60-something people that don’t have a place to live right now,” he said, referring to a Thursday night apartment fire in Mableton.
“… I know that’s a…
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