This is a charter amendment that will take the power and control from local government and place the power and control back where it rightfully belongs- in the hands of the people. This law removes the right for Cities and Towns in Shelby County to lay claim to unincorporated areas of the county in the form of reserved annexation areas. The municipalities will then be required to allow the areas which they want to incorporate to vote on whether or not to be taken in. If the unincorporated area voters vote NO then the town or city cannot annex the unincorporated area. This law would also allow for areas of the city of Memphis which were annexed from 1970 to present to be de-annexed and returned to being unincorporated areas, and remain that way for as long as the citizens of that area wish or said areas incorporate into their own towns or cities. This amendment would truly put the power back in the hands of the people.
This power shall reside with the voters of Shelby County and allow for the rescission or approval of any proposed annexation of any municipality or unincorporated territories. The following statement provides a summary of the proposed amendment:
“Shall Shelby County Charter be amended by deleting sections: 6.05 Municipalities, 6.07 Annexation, and 6.08 incorporation from Article VI and add a new Article IX entitled “Annexation, Deannexation, Municipal Boundaries, Incorporation
of Unincorporated territories, and Municipalities: to provide for the governing of how municipalities in Shelby County can change their boundaries by annexation and deannexation, and how unincorporated areas can incorporate. This amendment shall take effect September 30th 2010.”
