Source: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2014/feb/12/knox-county-mayor-tim-burchett-supports-anti/?print=1

By Gerald Witt

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

KNOXVILLE — Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett opposes municipal annexations without consent from neighborhoods, and encouraged Tennessee’s county mayors to back proposed legislation that would strip local control of annexations from cities.

In late January he sent a letter to the mayors and county executives in Tennessee urging them to support a bill proposed by Rep. Mike Carter, R—Ooltewah, to limit cities’ power to annex in the state.

“His bill would strip the city councils of the power to unilaterally annex resident sin the city unless a majority of residents ask for it or vote for it,” Burchett said.

He also asked the Knox County delegation in the General Assembly to support House Bill 2371 and its counterpart, Senate Bill 2464. As of Tuesday, the proposal had been assigned to a House subcommittee.

“It’s really at the core of what property rights are about,” Burchett said. “Property rights are, generally, a very American issue.”

Knox County Commission is expected to take up the issue in Tuesday’s work session.

More details as they develop online and in Thursday’s News Sentinel.