Valley Grande residents cite schools, taxes as reasons against annexation

By Sajit Abraham / Selma Times – Journal

Valley Grande business owners and citizens are concerned.

According to a Valley Grande Community Notice signed by &uot;concerned citizens in the Valley Grande Community,&uot; a notice, which was passed out to citizens and business owners throughout the Valley Grande area, Valley Grande is about to be annexed by Selma.

To prevent annexation, the notice states that the only way to prevent annexation is for Valley Grande to incorporate as its own city.

The notice states that a meeting will be held to discuss the matter Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. According to Valley Grande residents, the meeting will be held at the Central Baptist Church. Probate Judge Johnny Jones, head of the Dallas County Commission, Dallas County Commissioner Roy Moore, and Dallas County Attorney John Kelley are expected to attend the meeting.

Alicia Phillips, who owns Advantage Storage, a business in Valley Grande, said she was against annexation. Not only does Phillips own a business outside Selma, she also resides in Summerfield, another area outside Selma’s city limits.

Phillips cited several reasons for being against annexation. Phillips said if annexation occurred, her taxes would be raised. The other reasons, she said, were that she did want to be associated with Selma due to its high crime rate and the fact that she did want her children attending Selma City Schools.

Valley Grande resident Steve Webb said that he had just moved to the area a couple of years ago and did not want to &uot;throw money away,&uot; especially if his taxes were about to be raised.

Charity Odell, another area resident, said &uot;she liked living in the country,&uot; and did not want to become a &uot;part of a city.&uot;

Area resident Karen Vickery did not want her kids attending Selma City Schools.

However, there were others like Philip Beverly, who said area residents &uot;probably had little to worry about.&uot;