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Judge decides fate of Mountainboro

By Barbara Czura - bio | email

BOAZ, AL (WAFF) - For more than two years, the debate has raged over plans to annex the town of Mountainboro into the city of Boaz.

Now the plan has gotten a blessing from an Etowah circuit judge.

In a single vote, Etowah County circuit judge David Kimberly decided Tuesday that Mountainboro will be annexed into the city of Boaz.

Boaz Mayor Tim Walker is pleased.

"Even though it's one vote majority- it's still the majority and I think it's going to be my job to show the folks in Mountainboro that being a part of Boaz is a good thing," said Mayor Walker.

He told WAFF 48 News he's anxious to provide the people of Mountainboro with the same services that are already provided inside the Boaz City Limits, such as roadside maintenance, debris pickup and full-time fire and police protection.

He also said Mountainboro residents will have the option of which school they would like to attend.

The next step in the annexation process is a 42 day delay for an appeal.

Now that annexation is on the map WAFF 48 News went out into the community to see what residents think.  

"We don't know what kind of services Boaz is gonna provide us-- water, street cleaning? So we want to stay in the county," said Sunny Arora.  

"20 or 30 years down the road, it may be the best decision Boaz has ever done. Boaz is not in my personal opinion, able to financially support it," said Jerry Batles.

Mayor Walker said the annexation of Boaz will help in the long term, providing growth for Highway 431.

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