Group moves to stop annexations

In what anti-annexation leaders say are the first of many lawsuits, Hamilton County Residents Against Annexation filed two Wednesday to stop annexation of the Ramsgate community and an area off Big Ridge Road.

"This is only the beginning," said Kyle Holden, president of the anti-annexation group. "As more communities annexed by ordinance face their deadlines for filing, we will file suits to protect these communities. We believe this is a winnable effort, and we are resolved to see it through."

Not part of the lawsuit is the area of Cummings Cove. Annexation of that area automatically will take effect at midnight tonight, city officials said.

Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield said Wednesday that the lawsuits, filed in Hamilton County Chancery Court, were not a surprise.

"We expected it," he said. "We've been careful in crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' in the expectation it would come up in court."

Mr. Littlefield said he was somewhat surprised that Cummings Cove was not part of the lawsuit.

Officials with Hamilton County Residents Against Annexation said Wednesday that they did not file a suit on behalf of Cummings Cove because they could not find any residents who opposed the annexation. They said it was a unique situation because half of the subdivision already lies in the city.

The anti-annexation group has said that part of its strategy will be to stall the annexations through lawsuits, but Mr. Littlefield said he does not think the strategy will work.

"They'll spend a lot of money on legal fees," he said.

Bill Reesor, a board member of the anti-annexation group, said Wednesday that the lawsuits are winnable because the only plans the city has brought forward are "plans to make a plan."

"They simply haven't thought this through," he said. "I have talked to dozens of citizens who simply cannot afford to be brought into the city. The city is not only going to materially retard these citizens, it is going to financially destroy them."

The suits filed Wednesday were on behalf of residents living in Ramsgate and on Big Ridge Road, both of which were approved for annexation on Sept. 29 by the City Council. State law says an area becomes part of the municipality 30 days after the final approval, so the deadline to file the lawsuits was today.

The anti-annexation group has hired the services of Knoxville attorney David Buuck, who in the past has fought annexation by the city of Knoxville. Mr. Buuck could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The lawsuit deadline for the next round of annexations will happen next week. Among the sites up for annexation are commercial areas in Ooltewah and along Hunter Road.

Officials with Hamilton County Residents Against Annexation said Wednesday they would file a lawsuit to stop those annexations.

ANTI-ANNEXATION LAWSUIT

Areas included:

* Ramsgate

* Big Ridge

Not included:

* Cummings Cove

NEW RESIDENTS

City officials said any newly annexed residents of Cummings Cove can call 311 if they have questions about garbage pickup, police, fire or recycling.