It hasn’t been the first time a resident in Aragon has sought to say sayonara to the city government, but this time it was the county denying the request instead of the Aragon City Council.

Will Dover brought a request before the County Commission during their August session which was denied since his de-annexation from the City of Aragon would have created an “island” of property surrounded by territory controlled by city government.

An “island” in this context is land and home wholly surrounded by one entity, but in control of another.

County Commissioner Ray Carter argued against the request, noting that services that are provided by the city would still be provided to Dover such as trash service.

“He’s not discontinuing his relationship with the City of Aragon, so I simply don’t get it,” Carter noted before the vote. “I understand the problems that Aragon has going on right now, but it puts an island in the middle of town that we now have to service… For the life of me I can’t understand for the life of me how this is good for us.”

Commissioner Chuck Thaxton agreed that creating the island was problematic, especially since the County Police reported they are still

The official vote before the County Commission during their August 1 meeting was a vote to approve a de-annexation request, which failed with a 1-4 vote.

Commissioner Scotty Tillery voiced his concern for the Aragon city government and their need for additional resource help as the smallest municipality in Polk County.

“I want us to think as a county government – they are one of our cities. I know at one time we’ve offered to come in and help, Matt offered and Muriel as well. Maybe to have those conversations again to see what we can do,” Tillery said. “I know they have trouble. As the big brother county, it is what we ought to do, as a big brother we ought to follow up on those conversations again.”