Organizers of the effort to incorporate the Selmont community say the push is moving ahead, but the special election will not be held at the Nov. 3 general election.
Erice Williams, who is heading the incorporation committee, said the biggest obstacle now is raising the $7,500 needed to hold a special election that would allow residents to vote on whether to form Alabama’s newest city.
Williams said the required paperwork has been filed and accepted and support inside the community remains strong, with only a small number of absentee business owners expressing concerns. The committee must continue holding town hall meetings until enough residents from each part of the proposed 3.3-mile radius attend and sign on, he added.
“It’s just like a continuous circle, so if we get the continuous circle fulfilled, then we move forward with the ballot,” Williams said.
The committee hasn’t raised the $7,500 needed to cover voting machines, the creation of a voter registration roster for residents inside the proposed city limits and the cost of staffing the polling place, so Williams said issue won’t be part of the November general election.
“It’s going to have to be something completely different,” he said.
A community town hall meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. at Providence Missionary Baptist Church, 1649 Kings Bend Road in Selma. Williams said the purpose is to clear up misunderstandings about incorporation, update residents on the status of the effort, and stress the importance of raising the remaining funds.
“That meeting is coming up, the process is still underway, and the purpose for the meeting is to give everybody an update and to explain that there’s these fees that are required in order to pay for the election,” he said.
Williams said he hopes continued outreach will help the committee reach its goal. “Maybe the environment might change,” he said. “We’re going to have to continue to do the town hall until we meet the quota.”
Anyone seeking more information can call 334-703-2362 or email Opselmont@gmail.com.
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