LAUREL HILL — The City Council will decide at its August meeting whether to cease discussing “This looming ‘dissolve the city or don't dissolve the city’ malarkey,” as Councilman Travis Dewrell described it.
Several council members and residents on July 7 spoke in favor of abandoning the discussion.
Dewrell said except for “one resident who pays $52 in ad valorem taxes (but) said he doesn't get his money's worth,” no one has contacted city officials in favor of dissolution.
“We have all these residents and not one is saying ‘Let’s dissolve the city,’” Councilman Scott Moneypenny said. “This has been advertised. It's been put out and they're not coming. Why do we keep bringing this up and going over it over and over again?”
Council Chairman Larry Hendren said the previous council never approved a resolution pursuing dissolution.
“Why are you having this discussion about dissolving the city when you're talking about getting grants and improving the city?” resident Mike Hanula said. “Do like we do with half the other stuff that comes across your table: clean it off the table and let's move forward already.”
City attorney Dan Campbell said residents would pay more in Almarante Fire District assessments than they do under city ad valorem taxes, which include fire protection services.
Due to homestead exemptions, poorer residents currently pay no ad valorem taxes, but would have to pay the fire district assessment, Campbell said.
“It would hurt poor people,” he said.
Dewrell said continuing to discuss dissolving the city might also hurt the city’s chances of obtaining improvement grants, such as a possible Northwest Florida Water Management District grant the city hopes to pursue.
Councilwoman Debra Adams said the council should defer to city voters to be sure they’re following residents’ will.
The council voted 3-2 to disapprove a dissolution fact-finding sheet proposed for distribution to residents. Adams and Councilman Daniel Lane dissented.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill may drop dissolution discussion (VIDEO)