Otis Moody residents debate pros and cons of annexation

Joining Zephyrhills would mean higher taxes as well as improvements. A community meeting comes to no consensus.

By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published May 4, 2005

ZEPHYRHILLS - The 40 or so residents and city officials who gathered to talk about annexation and redevelopment around Sixth Avenue left the meeting with no decisions made.

Some people were confused by the proposals and worried that they might translate to higher taxes. The meeting ended abruptly, and the crowd emptied out of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church as the sun was setting Monday evening.

But they had come together and started talking.

"I think there was good representation," said City Manager Steve Spina, who led the sometimes contentious meeting. "Anything you do is going to be a lot stronger if you have the residents' (support)."

Spina told the crowd that a small group of people had approached him with ideas for improving the area, including stepping up law enforcement and building a community center for child care and job training. The Otis Moody neighborhood and surrounding area, whose residents are mostly black, is off Sixth Avenue east of the CSX Railroad track, outside city limits. Pockets of it have long been havens for drug activity.

To obtain grant money to pay for most of the proposed improvements, the area would need to be incorporated, Spina said.

But annexation also means higher taxes, so city officials passed out a chart showing the difference in costs when property owners have to begin paying city as well as county taxes, plus city utility fees.

Eugene Pickett, 66, owns a house at Brown Street and Sixth Avenue but now lives in Rochester, N.Y. He wanted to know what the financial impact would be on the residents, many of whom have low incomes.

"You must take into consideration the people that pioneered this area, that are growing old in this area that have limited funds," Pickett said.

Spina acknowledged higher water bills, fees for public safety and property taxes all will add up. But he emphasized the neighborhood would not be annexed unless property owners agree.

"If you don't want to annex, you can't be made to annex," he said.

Blanche Benford, one of the activists who is advocating redevelopment, tried to calm people when the discussion turned heated.

"It's about bringing people together in an area so that certain things can be done," said Benford, who lives in Wesley Chapel. "The bottom line is that we all have to agree to work together."

Molly Moorhead covers news about Zephyrhills. She can be reached at 352 521-6521 or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6521. Her e-mail address is moorhead@sptimes.com

[Last modified May 4, 2005, 00:58:13]