Steen appointed to new annexation study panel

Staff report

Rep. Fred Steen of Landis has been appointed to the Joint Legislative Study Commission on Municipal Annexation.

Steen is the second Rowan resident to be appointed to the commission. Last week, Sen. Marc Basnight, president pro tem of the N.C. Senate, appointed Rowan County Commissioner Tina Hall.

House Speaker Joe Hackney announced the appointment of Steen, who has served the past year on a House select commission looking at possible changes in the state's involuntary annexation law.

Steen has repeatedly called for returning to the pre-1959 law that allowed for a vote of affected residents.

The House committee recommended a moratorium on all involuntary annexation until its review and recommendations were ready.

The House voted overwhelmingly in favor of the moratorium, but the Senate sent the bill to committee, wanting more time to study the issue.

The Senate then joined the House in appointing a joint panel to study the issue and make recommendations during the upcoming legislative session.

Rep. Bruce Goforth and Rep. Paul Luebke will serve as co-chairmen of the House commission. Other members include Reps. Nelson Dollar, Earl Jones, Louis M. Pate Jr., Edgar V. Starnes, Russell E. Tucker and Trudi Walend.

Other non-legislative members of the House panel include Douglas Aitken, Moore County; Judith Welch Wegner, Orange County; DeWitt F. McCarley, Mecklenburg County; and Grainger Barrett, Cumberland County.

Senate appointments to the committee are co-chairmen Sen. Vernon Malone and Sen. Robert Charles Soles Jr., as well as Sens. Austin M. Allran, Daniel G. Clodfelter, Don W. East, Anthony E. Foriest, Steve Goss, Malcom Graham, Joe S. Queen and Tony Rand. Public members, in addition to Hall, include Ben Campen, Freddy Johnson and Beth Trahos.