Adams details benefits since annexation started

Residents in the annexed areas of Olive Branch were asking, “What’s in it for me?” when a judge’s decision moved them from the unincorporated area of DeSoto County inside the Olive Branch city limits. About 18.5 square miles were added to the city in late April when Judge Percy Lynchard wrote the Final Decree on the annexation issue when rural residents challenged the city’s move for annexation.

The Final Decree became official on May 28, putting the approximate population of Olive Branch now at more than 40,000 people.  

To answer the question of “What’s in it for me?,” Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams on Friday, Dec. 10 sent a letter to the residents who were annexed. Adams said he wanted to communicate with those new citizens of the city and detail the services they have been receiving from the city since June 1.  

“We are committed to press forward and continue our efforts into 2022 and beyond,” Adams wrote. “It’s my belief that our best days are ahead of us.”

Adams also alluded to committing to provide future “periodic” progress updates. 

Here are some of the highlights of information provided in the mailing. Figures quoted are from June 1-Nov. 1.  

There were 54 total arrests by the police department and 1,627 calls for service to the annexed area. There have been 125 EMS/ambulance calls and 199 fire calls to the area. The new pumper truck purchase by the city allowed for a tanker truck to be moved to Station 3, which is closer to the new areas of the city.  

Adams added that the city has budgeted new public safety and public works positions, a staff engineer, a code enforcement officer, and a budget line item of $36,000 for new street lights, a total budget of more than $2.7 million, to cover the annexed areas.

The entire text of Mayor Adams’ letter and information that was included in the mailing is found here.