SYLACAUGA Ala.- The City of Sylacauga is adding more residents after Gov. Kay Ivey signed House Bill 458 approving annexation requests from property owners non-contiguous with the municipality.
The bill was first introduced on May 4 by state Rep. Ron Johnson and was sent for the governor’s desk on May 9 for approval. Parcels of land north and northwest of the city of Sylacauga, near the Sycamore and Alpine communities, are included in the annexation.
People annexed into the city will gain increased response time from city police and other emergency services, possibly be eligible for lower homeowners insurance rates, city trash pickup, have access to city schools, and be able to participate in municipal elections.
The increase in population will qualify the city for more residential and commercial developments, jobs, public transportation, restaurants, activities for children, and the ability to apply for more community grants.
“When people come to us and ask to be annexed, we have to be extremely cautious,” said mayor Jim Heigl. “We have to make sure they’re close enough, so we can provide them with the services that we need to provide for our citizens.”
Heigl also explained how this helps with 2020 Census numbers, and the census’ impact on the city.
“This will help the city in terms of head count, with the census coming up and that’s extremely important. Through that census, federal money comes down through the state, counties and into the cities and towns. The more population we have, the more services we can provide through federal funding.”
For more information regarding annexation, please contact Shannon Plexico at 256-401-2425 or [email protected].