Conveyor Belt
05-27-2006, 09:34 AM
1. Before you moved to Petal, did you formerly live in Hattiesburg? No
2. Did your children attend Hattiesburg schools? No
3. Why did you move to Petal? I've lived here my whole life.
4. Are you glad that you made the decision to live in Petal? When I bought a home, I decided to live in Petal, mainly because of the schools. The Lamar County School bond issue for OG played a small part in my decision to eliminate OG from my home area. I chose Petal over OG because OG is growing so fast, I'm unsure of it's future, plus I didn't want to be annexed by Hattiesburg. That's not a jab or a joke, that's an honest thought process. I know what Petal is and what they are going to be. I like stability. Actually, I moved from outside the city limits to inside the city limits. That was a big deal for me. I've never lived in a home where I could look out the window and see another home. That's a bit odd getting used to having close neighbors.
5. Do you now work in Hattiesburg? Yes, but I'd like to work in Petal to be closer to home. However, the volume is bigger in Hattiesburg, although, that may change in a bit.
6. Do you shop in the Oak Grove area - Turtle Creek Mall & West? Yes, but it's only because there aren't similar stores in Petal. I'm not sure how well the chain clothing stores would do in Petal (we only have Cato, but it seems to do well). A Petal mall... that would be a site, wouldn't it? I do not go to OG unless it's a trip to the hobby store or some other store that is located in only OG. I went to Ramey's once, but that was after the hurricane because I needed ham for the store for the chicken cordon-bleu and WalMart hadn't recieved their meat stock yet. It was okay, but I buy my groceries at WalMart in Petal.
7. Finally, would you move back to Hattiesburg now? Would you enroll your children in Hattiesburg schools now? I would never enroll my children in Hattiesburg schools. NEVER. The only area of Hattiesburg I would consider moving to is... I wouldn't. I can't bring myself to live in Hattiesburg.
I have a feeling that the answers will reveal that Petal gave you and your family something Hattiesburg didn't. Perhaps it was a better school system, or lower taxes, or smaller community, or lower crime rates, etc. Whatever the reason, I'll be interested to see how your answers compare to those in the Oak Grove Community who desire incorporation now.
I'm not sure if my answers weaken or stengthen your hypothesis. I'm really not that great of an example because I'm young and have only lived in the Petal area. I was suprised at how much higher my car tags were simply by moving in the city. I've never paid city property taxes on a home, so I didn't know what to expect, but I don't think it's an unfair amount. The crime issue, and potential for crime was a big deciding factor, as was schools. In college, you go to school with the kids from the other HS's, so you know which schools are good. I wouldn't have any problem with the school districts in OG, Sumrall, or South Jones. Those kids knew their stuff, some more than me. I've never had to play catch up before , so that was a bit odd.
Ultimately, we decided based on my son's future. OG would be much closer to work, especially for my wife (Target), but we decided on Petal because it was a city with a goal and a plan and a community that knew what they wanted.
2. Did your children attend Hattiesburg schools? No
3. Why did you move to Petal? I've lived here my whole life.
4. Are you glad that you made the decision to live in Petal? When I bought a home, I decided to live in Petal, mainly because of the schools. The Lamar County School bond issue for OG played a small part in my decision to eliminate OG from my home area. I chose Petal over OG because OG is growing so fast, I'm unsure of it's future, plus I didn't want to be annexed by Hattiesburg. That's not a jab or a joke, that's an honest thought process. I know what Petal is and what they are going to be. I like stability. Actually, I moved from outside the city limits to inside the city limits. That was a big deal for me. I've never lived in a home where I could look out the window and see another home. That's a bit odd getting used to having close neighbors.
5. Do you now work in Hattiesburg? Yes, but I'd like to work in Petal to be closer to home. However, the volume is bigger in Hattiesburg, although, that may change in a bit.
6. Do you shop in the Oak Grove area - Turtle Creek Mall & West? Yes, but it's only because there aren't similar stores in Petal. I'm not sure how well the chain clothing stores would do in Petal (we only have Cato, but it seems to do well). A Petal mall... that would be a site, wouldn't it? I do not go to OG unless it's a trip to the hobby store or some other store that is located in only OG. I went to Ramey's once, but that was after the hurricane because I needed ham for the store for the chicken cordon-bleu and WalMart hadn't recieved their meat stock yet. It was okay, but I buy my groceries at WalMart in Petal.
7. Finally, would you move back to Hattiesburg now? Would you enroll your children in Hattiesburg schools now? I would never enroll my children in Hattiesburg schools. NEVER. The only area of Hattiesburg I would consider moving to is... I wouldn't. I can't bring myself to live in Hattiesburg.
I have a feeling that the answers will reveal that Petal gave you and your family something Hattiesburg didn't. Perhaps it was a better school system, or lower taxes, or smaller community, or lower crime rates, etc. Whatever the reason, I'll be interested to see how your answers compare to those in the Oak Grove Community who desire incorporation now.
I'm not sure if my answers weaken or stengthen your hypothesis. I'm really not that great of an example because I'm young and have only lived in the Petal area. I was suprised at how much higher my car tags were simply by moving in the city. I've never paid city property taxes on a home, so I didn't know what to expect, but I don't think it's an unfair amount. The crime issue, and potential for crime was a big deciding factor, as was schools. In college, you go to school with the kids from the other HS's, so you know which schools are good. I wouldn't have any problem with the school districts in OG, Sumrall, or South Jones. Those kids knew their stuff, some more than me. I've never had to play catch up before , so that was a bit odd.
Ultimately, we decided based on my son's future. OG would be much closer to work, especially for my wife (Target), but we decided on Petal because it was a city with a goal and a plan and a community that knew what they wanted.