Published: 05 February 2010
Ball Ground officials have reconsidered annexing portions of Ga. 372 that would have created a guide for the city’s future growth.
At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Ball Ground City Council had approved, 4-0, sending two resolutions to the Georgia General Assembly seeking annexation of portions of the state highway, including right of way along Ga. 372, beginning at the existing city limits, extending east to the Etowah River bridge and portions of right of way along Ga. 372 beginning at the existing city limits (Marion Spence Road), extending north to Jordan Road.
After further review and talks with county officials, Mayor Rick Roberts decided not to send the resolutions to the General Assembly, citing concerns from Cherokee County government officials and the city’s desire to keep its good relationship with the county intact.
“There were concerns at the county level that we might use the length of highway in the future to execute spoke-annexations,” said City Manager Eric Wilmarth. “We had no intention of doing this. We really thought it was illegal.
“As it turns out, spoke-annexations are legal after the annexation of state right of way through legislative action,” Wilmarth said. “Since it can be done, and since the county had concerns, Mayor Roberts, in the interest of good faith, opted not to pursue the annexations at this time.”
“We may in the future sit down with officials from the county and discuss our long term and short term plans as it pertains to our footprint,” Wilmarth said.
County Commission Chairman Buzz Ahrens said he contacted Wilmarth after learning of the proposed annexations.
“So, when Eric and I discussed it, it became clear that there was an important difference in possible implications of such annexation—more specifically related to spoke annexation,” Ahrens said. “Statewide, in the past this has been a very volatile issue. Most of it has been cured by legislation except for State Delegation/General Assembly approval of state road annexation. This was the process chosen by the city of Ball Ground. If approved, any parcels along Ga. 372 to the Etowah River could be annexed off the state/city right of way, even if (it’s) not contiguous to city property.”
Roberts said he would rather work out a growth boundary agreement with the county instead of moving forward with the state highway annexations.
“I am hopeful that we can revisit this concept with the county commissioners sometime soon,” he said. “Overall, these annexations were not a priority; as such, I would rather get concurrence with the county before we reconsider.”
