Annexation returns to Dover, Tennessee ~ LBL area

Annexation to expand the corporate limits of Dover, Tennessee is once again on the front burner.

Annexation — and non-Annexation — has caused a great deal of controversy and confusion in the city and county during the past four decades and longer. Annexation has a long history in the city and county and is one of, if not the leading factor, in the deep — mysterious to many — divide between the city and county. It is complicated:

But the current request is simple:

A request from an adjoining Stewart County, Tennessee landowner has requested the City of Dover annex a portion of property that is now in the county and place it into the city, complete with all city services and amenities.

The topic of Annexation into the corporate limits of Dover, Tennessee has a long, bitter and confusing history, for those of us who have observed the issue over the course of about four decades, as I have.

Annexation of corporate limits into Dover, Tennessee from Stewart County, Tennessee in the late 1970s and early 1980s helped deepen an already bitter divide and feud between city government and county government under the administrations of Stewart County Executive (the job is now knows as county mayor) Don Trawick and Dover Mayor J. Ray Sexton and Dover City Administrator Jimmy Scurlock. The annexation resulted in Dover city limits expanding west to where it is now and also included a series of some of the most twisted and Gerrymandered city limit lines you will find anywhere in this state or elsewhere. Some have long wondered why some portions of Dover are in city limits and some that are adjacent to Dover, or even beside Dover proper, are in the county. It was a time years ago where annexation led to increased business establishments in Dover and also some existing businesses and residences wanted to be left out of Dover City limits, so they were drawn around by the town.

Now one of those left out back then, but adjacent to Dover — like some others in the past — want in Dover City Limits.

At Monday Night’s Dover City Council meeting it was brought up that Dover City Attorney Olivia Wann and her husband Kevin want their 18.1 acres in the county to be annexed into the city.

In a letter dated July 29, 2021 to the Town of Dover and Regarding Annex Property located at 1340 Donelson Parkway, (Stewart County, Tennessee) it reads:

“To Whom it may concern: We as the property owners of the property located at 1`340 Donelson Parkway are requesting that the property be annexed into the city limits. The front lot and residence are zoned as C2 and located in the city limits. However, the approximate 18.1 acres remaining is zoned county property. We are requesting that the property be annexed for future development and to not only access city water and sewage services, but other services the City offers. The property is describved as Map 085, Parcel 063.02 and 63.07. We are requesting that the property be zoned as R3. Thank you for attending to this request. Sincerely, Kevin Wann and Olivia Wann.”

This request for annexation via owners consent was presented to the Dover City Council Monday for future action and discussion.

The proposed annexation request was discussed prior to the Monday Dover council meeting during the Dover Planning Commission meeting held just prior to the regular council meeting.

An official with Greater Nashville Regional Council was on hand to address the annexation request and other planning issues the town has. In regards to annexation, the GNRC official said the Town of Dover can annex by two methods .. by request and consent of an adjoining landowner and by referendum. The GNRC official said the referendum would come in a public vote initiated by the council.

After the planning meeting and before the regular council meeting I asked the GNRC official if the citizens of Dover can force a referendum on annexation via signed petition. He paused and said, “That is a good question and it is not one I can answer. That is a question for the lawyers.”

So, for some time now I have had Dover and Stewart County officials tell me point blank, and argue the point, that Dover can no longer annex property into city limits. I knew that was wrong, but did not have the time or resources to prove them wrong. The GNRC official confirmed. Dover City Limits can be expanded through annexation via at least two processes: request and consent by a landowner and/or referendum brought up by the city council and .. I am going to go out on a limb and say unless the law has changed and I am pretty sure it has not .. the citizens of Dover, Tennessee along with the impacted areas can vote to annex or oppose annexation by petition and referendum.

Annexation years ago by Dover ultimately led to the creation of the Dover Police Department and also resulted in Stewart County handing the City of Dover a hefty bill for Emergency dispatching services.

Unless I miss my guess, the move to split the city and county fire departments once again is going to result in the City of Dover getting a bill of upwards of $40,000 per year for dispatching services. This also opens the door for Dover taxpayers to expand corporate city limits to affluent adjacent neighborhoods to the Town of Dover that already enjoy some or all city services, without being in city limits and paying city taxes.

This Story Will Update …….

Story By David R. Ross, LBLUS.com — All rights reserved.