Fredonia Residents Question Kilgore Annexation

KILGORE — A landowner about to be annexed into Kilgore told city council members Tuesday the Fredonia community doesn’t feel a part of the city despite consistent contributions. “We’ve been there over 100 years,” Terry Dunn said of Fredonia, which was settled south of a former Fredonia by freed slaves after the Civil War. “Fredonia has always participated in everything the city of Kilgore has done. And I don’t know why y’all look at us as not Kilgoreites. … We’ve never thrown out a task, never backed down for any fundraiser.”

Dunn was one of three speakers from a 261-acre tract the city council is poised to annex into Kilgore on Dec. 13. The council cites a lack of land suitable for new housing in a quest that previously annexed land formerly to the south and east of the city limits. Tuesday’s was the second and final public hearing on the annexation before next month’s vote. Dunn and others said they do not see the benefit to them to become part of the city. They shunned fines, fees and building inspections that are on the horizon, though city staff members maintained that the residents will be eased in as painlessly as possible.

The annexed residents won’t pay city taxes until 2013, and once water and sewer lines reach them they may keep using personal septic systems until those wear out. The hookup fee is $450, General Services Director B.J. Owen said. They also may keep their trash disposal arrangements for two years, Director of City Planning/Zoning Carol Windham added. She also said no one will pay for water, sewer service and trash pickup until they are using those services — those bills are not part of property tax payments, which one speaker said will rise $200 for her under the city’s 39-cent tax rate.