Waycross de-annexation from Pierce County land one subject of Atlanta meetings, state Rep. Jason Spencer says

A Georgia House committee on annexation, de-annexation and incorporation Tuesday, and state Rep. Jason Spencer, R-Woodbine, says Waycross is a prime example of what can go wrong.

Spencer cited the "situation with Pierce County and Waycross" in encouraging citizens to attend the meeting at 10 a.m. in Atlanta.

The committee is chaired by Rep. Jan. Tankersly, R-Brooklet, and was established by House Resolution 743 to review current laws and procedures to ensure the process is clear, open, fair and in the best interest of Georgians, the House said in a release.

A piece of local legislation, House Bill 523 introduced by state Rep. Chad Nimmer, R-Blackshear, caused an uproar even before it went into effect July 1. The bill forced Waycross to pull its city limits out of Pierce County and back across the county line into Ware County.

Because it had no prior notice until Gov. Nathan Deal signed it into effect, Waycross filed a petition to halt the bill's implementation on constitutional grounds. That failed and subsequent attempts to raise water and sewer rates and to shut off services have been the subject on an ongoing court battle between the city and Pierce County.

Nimmer told the other House members state Sen. Tyler Harper, who represent Waycross, he would handle the matter himself and that left them uninformed.

Spencer said he learned of the bill on after it cleared the Senate, "and I said, 'How did that happen?'''

The bill was then adopted as part of a collection of other local legislation, all without any debate.

"Chad chose to do it that way,'' Spencer said. "Now we're having to deal with this decision after the fact.''

Now some Pierce County property owners who were de-annexed without being asked say they want back inside the city.

"They wanted to be [in Waycross] for the water, sewer, fire and police protection,'' Spencer said.

The owners of a partially developed riverside subdivision assert the remaining lots can't be sold without water and sewer service, and New Life Assembly of God is concerns its insurance rates will skyrocket now that it no longer has Waycross fire protection. All Pierce County has in the area is a small volunteer department.

There was a legal advertisement in the Waycross Journal-Herald saying House Bill 523 would amend the city charter, but it didn't say how. Waycross officials thought it referred to its request to annex some unincorporated islands inside the city limits, but they were wrong.

"It wasn't unlawful, but it need to be more detailed to say how the charter was being amended,'' Spencer said.

The General Assembly probably needs to also consider new requirement for public notice on pending bills, he said.

Tuesday's meeting will be at 10 a.m. in Room 406 of the Coverdell Legislative Office. Other meetings on Sept. 24 and Oct. 6 will be in the same room at the same time.

Terry Dickson: (912) 264-0405