Fayetteville Annexation Brings Population Explosion

City crews, police, fire fighters and building inspectors are all out in force in Fayetteville's newest sector. They are trying to bring the area under city compliance as soon as possible.

Some motorists' welcome to the new part of the city were less than warm. Police say residents can expect a crackdown on all city laws, from speeding to code enforcement.

By 10 a.m. Tuesday, some city workers had already picked up a truckload of trash along Bonnie Doone streets.

"As long as they see that we want to keep it clean, most of the time they will pitch and help," said city worker Carol Jackson. "Hopefully, if we get enough of the people out here that see us working, they'll come out and maybe help out in some kind of way, because this is their community."

Resident Robert O'Neil says he has always tried to keep the area around his home clean, but got frustrated when the county didn't help clean up the streets.

"It's something I used to do, but I stopped because I wasn't getting any help," says O'Neil. "Now, there are other people helping."

Along with Bonnie Doone, the communities of Cottonade, Summer Hill and Ponderosa were annexed. Some residents fought the annexation, because of higher taxes and the cost of sewer installation.

Crime prevention units are also combing the neighborhoods in Fayetteville's new areas. They want help from citizens in developing community watch programs to assist them with crime prevention.