ATLANTA (WXIA) -- Mayor Kasim Reed is wooing south Fulton business owners to annex into the city of Atlanta, a move that is heating the already tense battle over what could become the ninth largest city in the state.
The southwest corner is only area of Fulton County that is still unincorporated.
Right now, HB 514 awaits the governor’s signature and would allow voters to decide on whether to create a city of south Fulton, which would include nearly 120,000 residents.
If the bill becomes law the residents will have the opportunity to vote for a referendum to create the new city on November 8.
Reed wants the same land to make Atlanta an even larger city.
The big prize is the Fulton industrial boulevard corridor, an area that starts at Charlie Brown airport to the north and stretches several miles south.
Politically, it is the lucrative mix of businesses along Fulton Industrial that’s most attractive.
Reed has sent letters to commercial and industrial property owners in the area reminding them they cannot vote for the proposed city, unless they also live in the unincorporated area.
The letter read in part, "The City of Atlanta has maintained an open-door policy of welcoming property owners and residents who are interested in annexing into Atlanta city limits."
In the letter Reed also said he is “….extending an opportunity… to discuss the option of annexing.
“Roof tops don’t necessarily increase the tax base, businesses do, so I’m sure why he (Reed) is doing it,” said State Rep. Roger Bruce, who sponsored HB 514.
Reed and other proponents of annexing say residents are better off in an existing, established city, rather than in an uncertain start-up.
“My first reaction, is he’s doing his job,” said Bruce. “The irony is he was the sponsor of this same legislation when he was in the senate.”
Rep. Bruce said he knows because he sponsored the companion bill in the house.
Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington, Jr. is hosting an "Annexation, Deannexation and Incorporation Summit" where residents will learn about their options from so-called neutral parties.
The summit will be held on Saturday April 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Westlake High School.
