Coast city decides not to appeal decision on proposed annexation

PASS CHRISTIAN — The city of Pass Christian has now decided it won’t appeal a judge’s decision denying the city’s request to annex 5.4 square miles in Harrison County.

The Sea Coast Echo reports the board of aldermen reached that decision this week after Mayor Chipper McDermott said an appeal would cost $60,000.

Aldermen then voted 3-2 against the appeal.

Earlier this month, Chancery Judge Hollis McGehee denied the city’s attempt to acquire annexation that included the Pineville community.

The city had argued its sales and property tax revenue is sufficient to provide services in the proposed annexed area. Harrison County countered that Pass Christian has lost population since Hurricane Katrina, as has the Pineville area the city wanted to annex.