Shannon WhitfieldWalker County Commissioner Shannon Whitfield said last Tuesday night that he plans to place an ordinance creating a special tax district on his meeting agendas for Aug. 8 and 22.
The overlay tax district is a request by the Wilson Road Neighborhood Group in order to fund 33 new LED streetlights along Wilson Road.
"I have not had anyone tell me they were against it," Whitfield said prior to last Tuesday's meeting, the second of two public meetings he requested the group hold before presenting the proposal for his approval.
Whitfield didn't hear any opposition at the meeting, which was attended by more than 30 citizens and mirrored the sentiments expressed at the first related meeting held in early July.
He is expected to approve the $4 annual fee for 1,095 parcels of land within the group's designated boundaries of Wilson Road from its intersection with Happy Valley Road to the state line. The flat-rate tax would apply to each parcel of land, so how much each resident would owe would be dependent on how many parcels they own. While the current cost is yet to be determined, Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, who co-founded the Neighborhood Group, estimates it would be $3.61 to $3.90 per parcel per year.
David Broden, a co-founder of the group, recapped the actions the "true grassroots group" took to raise awareness of the issue, including sending a notice to property owners of the parcels.
Upon Whitfield's approval, Walker County Tax Commissioner Carolyn Walker will add the charge to the October tax statements with payment due by Dec. 20. Walker will send the revenue to Whitfield, who will manage the contract with the Electric Power Board and pay the bill each month from a new line item in the county budget.
Whitfield said the estimated revenue of $4,380 would cover the costs of the contract with the EPB, which will pay for, install and maintain the new lights.
"I hope to have Wilson Road lit up by Christmas," said Broden.
Email Davis Lundy at davislundy@aol.com