Revised map of proposed Berlin town limits
BERLIN – The movement to incorporate the Berlin community into a town now faces a deadline: Friday, June 9. After that day, signatures will no longer be accepted for the incorporation petition. The effort will then move toward setting up a special election in the fall.
According to Patrick Bates, who heads up the effort, he now has the number of needed signatures to bring the move to a vote, but he still wants more signatures, especially from parts of the community south of U.S. Highway 278. The still-sought signatures are not for numbers; instead Bates wants signatures from owners of properties on specific 40-acre sections. Those signatures will determine whether or not those sections can be included within the proposed town limits.
Based on recent talks with local residents for and against the movement, the proposed boundary lines have been redrawn from maps distributed previously. Down from the originally included area of approximately 1,000 acres, the new map encompasses around 700 acres. If the incorporation vote is successful, unincluded sections can be brought in later; but supporters hope to have as many properties as possible at the outset.
After the June 9 deadline, the petition and other paperwork will be turned over to an attorney who will submit the request for a special election to the Cullman County Probate Court. The incorporation effort will have to pay for the election itself, but Bates has successfully secured all the needed funds. The special election, if everything stays on schedule, will likely take place at some point in September.
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