Carbon Hill City Clerk Kim Sides told the council members on Thursday that the city’s attorney gave her a draft of an ordinance that would annex a portion of land near an exit of Interstate 22.
“That is of vital importance to our city,” said council member Jacque Allred, who is running for mayor against James “Pee Wee” Richardson and Dorothy Stoit.
Allred said the land, located just off Exit 46 on Nauvoo Road, is a prime location for businesses, and those businesses will mean jobs for Carbon Hill residents and tax revenue for the city.
She said a pawn shop is already established on the property and will immediately begin contributing tax money when the annexation is complete.
Annexing the property has been a goal of the Carbon Hill Industrial Development Board for more than three years, according to board member Ronnie O’Rear.
“It’s been a long time in the making, and we need it,” he said.
After the meeting, Sides said that once the council approves the ordinance, the annexation of the property would also have to be approved with the Walker County Probate Judge and the U.S. Department of Justice.