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An unending annexation debate
© St. Petersburg Times LEALMAN -- Activists in this unincorporated community spent the past year on a roller coaster ride that seems to be stuck. City or county? At the beginning of 2002, they were scrambling to finance a feasibility study to determine Lealman's capability of becoming a city. As they sought funding, the group's worst fears came true: Pinellas Park annexed a horse farm in the land bridge area that connected east and west Lealman. The annexation severed the two Lealmans but seemed to help activists there. The Pinellas County Commission agreed to pay for a feasibility study and move boundaries to prevent voluntary annexations into Lealman. Kenneth City sued and Pinellas Park, Seminole and Largo joined in. Kenneth City won back its annexation planning area. Seminole, even before joining the suit, got back a portion of the area west of Park Street. The fate of the other boundaries is unclear as legal negotiations continue. The feasibility study showed that Lealman could support itself if the area chose cityhood. If residents chose a city with few services, it could even save some tax money. But if residents wanted a full-service city, they'd pay a premium. The possibility of incorporation is unclear. Ray Neri, head of the Lealman Community Association, acknowledges the standstill: "There's so many ifs and absolutely no concrete things." The best thing, he said, would be for the annexation lines to be moved permanently, which would remove the main reason for cityhood.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From the Times South Pinellas desks 2002: The Year in Review |
