By Mark Wineka
Salisbury Post
No matter what Rowan County commissioners say against it, Salisbury City Council is forging ahead with an annexation plan aimed mostly at residential subdivisions along N.C. 150.
The proposal, examined by council for the first time Tuesday, would jump Salisbury’s population by an estimated 1,699 people and expand its size by 2,075 acres.
Salisbury’s population stands near 30,000 now.
The targeted neighborhoods include Woodbridge Run, Summerfield, Windmill Ridge, Glen Heather, Hidden Hut, Homestead Hills and Neel Estates.
The small neighborhood between Forrest Drive and Home Road, including Stevens, Tremont and Pinewood drives, also is tabbed for the involuntary annexation. (Forest Glen already is part of the city.)
In addition, chunks of land on both sides of Rowan Mill Road near Sherrills Ford Road and at the Rowan County Airport would be part of this major annexation ó much of which was defeated in court in 1999. (See the accompanying story.)
Council passed a resolution of intent for the described area Tuesday.
An annexation report outlining the costs of providing city services to the area will be presented to council Feb. 19.
Council also set March 27 as the date for a required public information meeting. It is tentatively scheduled for the Civic Center.
A public hearing will be held April 8, and council could adopt an annexation ordinance as early as April 18.
If the city leaders followed the involuntary annexation timetable and faced no court challenges, the effective date of annexation would be June 30.
Properties annexed would have to pay city property taxes (in addition to county property taxes) in exchange for city services such as fire and police protection, street maintenance, garbage and recycling collection, recreation and water-sewer service.
Newly annexed properties are not required to connect to utility services.
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners publicly denounced the city’s annexation proposal at its meeting Monday and hinted that if the city proceeds it could jeopardize joint city-county projects, such as a possible partnership on a conference center/Rowan-Salisbury School System headquarters building in the downtown.
If an annexation occurred, the county would stand to lose sales tax revenue, because the monies are dispersed to government units based on population.
During their meeting Thursday, council members resisted comment on the commissioners’ reaction.
Mayor Susan Kluttz said afterwards that the city leaders will not enter into a debate or argument with commissioners about annexation. Commissioners know ó Kluttz said she reminded them in January ó that the city will continue to annex.
It’s the only way for the city to grow, and it should be the responsibility of people who use city services ó as do many just outside the city limits ó to pay for them, Kluttz said.
Kluttz emphasized that the annexation area outlined Tuesday could be reduced and that council members will pay close attention to the public’s input during the process.
Kluttz said she was disappointed that commissioners seemed to be willing to hold other joint projects hostage over annexation, which is probably an issue the city and county leaders will never agree on.
“I hope we can get beyond it,” she said.
Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263 or mwineka@salisburypost.com.