Blake Harris stands at the intersection of Alabama 21 and Cedars Road near the Munford city limits. Munford may annex property owned by Harris and his family so a traffic light can be installed.
Blake Harris and his three sons own property at the intersection and have agreed to allow the town to annex it. The property taxes will likely increase between $200 and $300 a year, Harris said.
Mayor Lynn Swinford said Wednesday the Town Council could annex the intersection and surrounding property into Munford at its May 5 meeting. He said state Transportation Department officials have told him they would move quickly to install the light once the town annexes the property.
Matthew Rouse, a volunteer firefighter, died in an accident at the intersection on Oct. 10. Efforts Wednesday to reach members of Rouse's family were unsuccessful.
Attempts to place a light at the intersection were met with questions about who would have liability for it, because studies by the state Transportation Department do not show a need for one.
Under the proposed annexation, the town would assume liability, Swinford said.
Initially, both the town and the Talladega County Commission planned to share liability. Then the question of installing the light became one solely for the county because the intersection is outside town limits.
County Commissioner Jackie Swinford, Mayor Swinford's cousin, said the county decided against that because it worried about requests for traffic signals from other communities.
"We decided to talk with the landowners and see if they could be annexed into the city," Commissioner Swinford said. "They had some concerns about the taxes, but we ran the numbers with them and it was not a significant amount, and they've been very cooperative and understanding."
Harris said he wants a light put up at the intersection.
"I just want to do anything to help the town or city of Munford," he said, "and I've always been supportive of the town in which I grew up."
