Legal ads for both Avondale Estates and Decatur annexation bills were placed Wednesday in the DeKalb Champion newspaper, the county’s legal organ. Neither city yet has a sponsor.
“This is the first hurdle you have to cross before a bill can be introduced,” said Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss. “This gives us the ability to go out and get a sponsor—without the ad, nothing can happen.”
But State Representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) pointed out the ads “don’t mean a bill is imminent.”
Meantime the House Governmental Affairs Committee approved legislation for potential new DeKalb cities LaVista Hills and Tucker, setting up a House of Representatives vote as early as Monday. Approval of the new cities has been considered a vital prelude to any annexation approval.
All new city bills must pass the House and be sent to the Senate by crossover day, March 13. Annexation bills are not subject to crossover day requirements.
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