Oakwood holds the line on tax rate

OAKWOOD - The Oakwood City Council decided Monday night to keep the same tax rate the town has had for the past decade, 2.48 mills.

City manager Stan Brown said the staff worked real hard on the budget.

“This was a goal set by the Mayor and Council when we started our budget process. The staff has worked real hard on the budget and we have been able to come in with a budget that...can meet our other service needs for the city and maintain the same property tax rate,” said Brown.

The second read on the tax rate will be next Monday at a 4:00 council meeting.

REZONING

Residents and property owners from the Holiday Heights Subdivision turned out at Monday's meeting to discuss property at 4323,4317,4311,and 4305 Holiday Drive and 4403 Holiday Heights Drive.

Property owners Michael Cash, Mickey Patterson and Georgiann Hicks told the council they would like to have the zoning for their property changed from residential property to office professional property.

Michael Cash said he wants his piece of property rezoned and annexed because he has tried to sell it as "residential" but has had no luck.

“We’ve tried to sell our home back in early 2000 (and) around 2002–2003 and that’s when the economy was booming and we had no buyers. So we took off market and over the last year we have had it on the market for potential commercial.”

Cash said that his choice of rezoning and annexation is less evasive and is better for the neighborhood.

Not everyone in the neighborhood agreed with what Cash and the other owners want to do because they say making this change would destroy their neighborhood.

Lisa Harris lives in the subdivision and spoke in opposition, saying, “This change will disjoint a well established neighborhood.” Harris added she understands their property not selling but doesn’t agree with the change.

The council was reminded by City Attorney Donnie Hunt that the County had objected to the rezoning and annexation meaning the matter will have to go to an arbitration hearing.

That meant the Mayor and Council could vote only on annexation and not rezoning of the properties and decided on approving the annexation requests. A vote on the rezoning will come only after the arbitration hearing.