Gov. Nathan Deal signed two pieces of legislation Tuesday that puts the decision to form the new city of Eagle’s Landing in the voter’s hands.
Deal signed the bills a few hours before his deadline to support or veto all bills from the legislative session.
Stockbridge city officials said they plan to take legal action against the Governor’s decision. Stockbridge city attorney Mike Williams called the legislation unconstitutional and illegal, and said they plan to invoke their full city rights in fighting the two laws.
Eagle’s Landing is just the latest in Georgia’s cityhood movement, but Stockbridge city officials — and some Georgia legislators — said the creation of Eagle’s Landing is unprecedented. The land to create the proposed city would come from the existing city of Stockbridge and parts of unincorporated Henry County.
Related: Creation of Eagle’s Landing Set To Rip Apart Stockbridge >>
Stockbridge Mayor Anthony Ford met with Deal a couple of weeks before he signed the bills.
“All the information that the staff gave him in reference to the disenfranchising of the citizens to vote on this issue in the first place, I thought that would resonate with him and he would actually veto everything,” Mayor Ford said. “But obviously not, so yes, I’m disappointed, but this fight’s not over.”
Vikki Consiglio, president of the Eagle’s Landing Educational Research Committee, said she’s glad Deal met with Stockbridge city leaders.
“It makes me proud that he did that and yet he saw that hey, we want to bring it back to local legislation,” she said. “We want the voters to decide and that’s what it all comes down to.”
That’s been a common point of contention in Eagle’s Landing fight to become a city; who gets to vote. Only those within the proposed city boundaries will get a say.
That includes people like Glenn Moore, who lives in unincorporated Henry County.
“I’m actually absolutely elated because it gives the voters, the residents, many of us who are in unincorporated Henry County a say,” Moore said.
On the other side of that boundary are people like Monica Johnson. She lives in Stockbridge but outside the proposed limits.
“If I was able to vote, so be it, I’ll see you at the ballot,” Johnson said. “I can’t vote. I own a house in this city. I will be directly impacted, but I don’t get a vote.”
Ford said if they lose the chunk of land to Eagle’s Landing, they will half to institute a property tax which is something residents don’t currently pay.
Both Eagle’s Landing supporters and Stockbridge city officials said they plan to continue educating the public on the facts surrounding the vote.
Eagle’s Landing supporters said they expect a fight for the next six months as they try to form their own city. Stockbridge city officials said they will also fight, but to keep their city together.
Who will prevail comes down to the voters in November.
