(memphistn.gov)

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland says his administration is set to begin the process of de-annexing the Southwind/Windyke area and the Rocky Point area, both in eastern Memphis.

City council member Bill Morrison, who headed the city’s de-annexation task force, will present the items to the council, most likely at the July 24 meeting.

“For too long, Memphis drew only by de-annexation,” Strickland said in a written statement Monday announcing the move to council on the two areas. “We must change that, and we must grow from our core and our neighborhoods. Right-sizing our city by this process helps us do that.”

(memphistn.gov)

The city’s de-annexation process includes an opportunity for those opposing de-annexation to petition to remain in the city. Otherwise the de-annexation moves forward.

As Strickland announced the plans for Southwide/Windyke and Rocky Point, he also announced the city will not move ahead with de-annexation plans for two other areas of the city explored by the task force:

•Frayser: 2.2 square miles of land along Highway 51 and Old Millington Road east of Watkins that includes the city police and fire training academies with one home on the rest of the land.

•Raleigh: 4 square miles along New Allen Road north of Ridgemont Road along the Loosahatchie River including residential subdivisions split between the city and unincorporated county. The area includes 1,739 homes and 3,671 residents, according to the city.

The council previously approved ordinances de-annexing two other area of the city – the portion of Eads within Memphis and river bottom land in southwest Memphis that is unpopulated.

The city is still considering de-annexation of an area of south Cordova that is south of the Rocky Point area and includes some subdivisions split by the city-county line. It contains 4,666 residents and 1,860 homes.

Strickland indicated earlier this year that the city wants to see de-annexation legislation withdrawn in the Tennessee Legislature that would have allowed for de-annexation by referendum of areas taken in by the city as long ago as 1998 before completing the de-annexation moves.

Strickland’s statement Monday said the administration has been working with state Representatives Mark White and Dwayne Thompson as well as state Senator Brian Kelsey on the latest de-annexation ordinances.