By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@Salisburypost.com
Enochville incorporation is once again before the N.C. General Assembly.
Sen. Andrew Brock, R-Davie, introduced a bill calling for an election in November 2010 on whether to incorporate.
Previous efforts have failed to gain the support of a Joint Legislative Commission on Municipal Incorporation.
The bill, filed on March 12, also specifies a temporary slate of town officers, including Yolonda Shimpock as mayor.
Shimpock has been a leader in the effort to incorporate the community adjacent to Landis and Kannapolis.
Brock said Monday that he introduced the bill as a courtesy to give residents a chance “to vote it up or down.”
He added that given the current economic situation, he doubts people would vote for additional taxes.
Brock said his bill would restart the process, requiring the proponents of incorporation to circulate a petition for signatures.
He said the petition will have to include specific information on what the plan is, including the tax rate.
Brock noted that previous information submitted had unrealistic estimates on sales tax, alcohol taxes and other possible revenue.
Brock, who represents both Davie and Rowan counties, doesn’t expect quick action on the bill.
It will have to go through the Joint Committee again, which isn’t likely in the current session.
The incorporation effort is viewed by some organizers as a way to hold off annexation by Kannapolis.
Enochville was originally incorporated in 1876. Residents lost interest in being a town in the mid 1900s, with no candidates and no elections. The town existed only on paper.
In 1974, the town held an election to revoke its charter.
Facing potential annexation by Kannapolis or Landis or both, a committee began work in 2003, drafting boundaries similar to the boundaries of the Enochville Fire & Rescue Department.