Council rejects de-annexation request

It appears one man is anxious to escape the city, but the Lebanon City Council squashed his de-annexation plea Tuesday in a close vote.

Rick Jones, whose home and property is on Sparta Pike near Uncle Pete's Truck Stop and Interstate 40, formally requested his property be removed from the city of Lebanon. Ward 2 Councilor Fred Burton supported his request.

Jones was grateful Burton had taken up his cause. Burton said the request was made because of a "lack of services." Jones said he was not on the sewer line and had "no fire or police protection" at his location.

"This is now a life and property safety issue. It's a single-family parcel," Jones said. "I learned I don't need to go before the planning commission first, but should take my request directly to the city council."

He said there hadn't been enough time to get his request on the agenda and requested it be considered at next month's meeting. The council agreed to suspend the rules and add his request to the meeting agenda.

When the council debated the request later in the meeting, Councilor Rob Cesternino said Jones was a member of the Lebanon Planning Commission for years.

"He's been making decisions for the city of Lebanon," Cesternino said.

"That area has a lot of potential growth," said Mayor Philip Craighead. "I didn't know there were no services there."

Burton said he had tried to convince Jones to stay in the city, but Jones had "been trying since 1998 to get gas service."

Cesternino again noted Jones' service on the city planning commission - making decisions for the city for which he wanted to remove his property.

"This is prime property right by the interstate. It was annexed for future development," said Public Works

Commissioner Jeff Baines. He said adding a sewer line to the property would be relatively simple.

Craighead agreed the area where the property is located is a logical place for the city to expand given its proximity to the interstate.

"I see the city, over time, taking over that area, but services need to be there," he said.

The council split 3-3 in voting on the request. Craighead was the tie breaker, voting to refuse Jones' request to secede from the city.