Leaders east of river debate incorporating Selmont

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 29, 2002

Imagine Selmont with its own police department, fire department and even its own city hall. Imagine a larger population, a cleaner area, and best of all &045;&045; more business.

This is a vision held by Dallas County Board of Education member Bill Minor, a resident of Selmont, who has discussed the possibility of incorporating the area.

Minor said he recently met with other community leaders to discuss the possibility of making Selmont its own city.

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The reasons, said Minor, lie in the location of the area, among other things.

The purpose of being attractive, said Minor, is to bring more businesses to the area, something which Minor feels can be better accomplished if Selmont works independently of, rather than through, the City of Selma.

Minor explained his philosophy.

Minor said his vision also includes expanding the city’s population from approximately 1,900 people to over 7,000.

Both Minor and Dallas County Commissioner Connel Towns, another resident of Selmont who has been actively involved in cleaning up the area, said there would a be community meeting held where residents could decide whether or not they want their area incorporated.

Business owners, and residents in the area, when asked about the latest proposal, had mixed feelings.

Selmont resident William Hasberry gave a number of reasons why he thought the area should be incorporated.

One reason, he said, was that Selmont’s tax dollars all go to the City of Selma. That is money, he said, which is mainly used in Selma rather than Selmont.

Second, residents are not allowed to vote in Selma’s city elections, a fact which Hasberry said has left Selmont &uot;on the outside of the political process.&uot;

Then there’s the fact that Selmont does not have its own police and fire department.

Business manager Tony Lee, who runs Lee Kawasaki in Selmont,

said he is opposed to the idea of incorporation.

The best way to improve Selmont, said Lee, is for Selma to annex the area.

Lee added that even though annexation would lead to an increase on his businesses’ property taxes, he still favored the idea.

Then there are some like Ricky Dennis, who manages B&S Used Auto Parts in Selmont.

Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. said he has heard about the idea, though he didn’t feel it was appropriate to comment on the incorporation plans.

The city of Selma currently provides police and fire protection to residents in Selmont. The General Services department also helps maintain the medians along U.S Highway 80.