Annexation trial could face delay

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
June 30, 2004
A trial in the city of Meridian's attempt to annex land north, east and west of the city could be delayed until next year.
Thomas J. Young Jr. filed a motion earlier this month to delay the Aug. 2 trial date. Young's attorney, James A. Williams, says there are "numerous, substantial allegations of racial discrimination that have not been" investigated yet and that a trial date should be postponed.
Young requests that the trial be moved to the first of the year to allow enough time for a "period of discovery" of his allegations.
Ken Storms, the city's chief administrative officer, however, disagrees with Young's complaints.
Young's request comes more than a month after Meridian city councilmen voted to remove the G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Industrial Park from its proposed area of annexation.
Meridian officials formally filed their annexation plans in August 2002 originally targeting 11.8 square miles of land that included the industrial park, 634 homes and 51 businesses.
In February, a Lauderdale County Chancery Court judge allowed Meridian to amend its annexation petition and correct deficiencies, including a description of the area eyed by the city.
A.M. "Bubba" Martin, head of Citizens Against Annexation a group of residents opposed to the city's plan said today that Young's motion could help his group's case.