Tupelo’s annexation trial has been set for March 29.

Lee County Chancery Judge Edward C. Prisock set the date this week after rejecting requests by Lee County and the town of Saltillo to dismiss the case on technicalities.

The trial is expected to last six weeks.

The city wants to absorb more than 16 square miles and some 3,000 residents from the county.

The city first launched its annexation attempts in August 2004, but the case was dismissed two years later due to technical errors.

The city revived its efforts in 2008. That attempt, too, was dismissed because of Tupelo’s technical issues.

The city immediately filed a third petition to annex in September 2008.