By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
Local officials and a bus load of annexation opponents will be going to Raleigh Wednesday to show their opposition to current annexation laws.
Two local officials, Commissioner Tina Hall and Rep. Fred Steen serve on the Joint Legislative Commission on Municipal Annexation.
Both plan to have recommendations ready for the 9:30 a.m. session in Room 643 of the Legislative Office Building.
Both Hall and Steen want the state’s 50-year-old annexation laws changed to require a vote of residents in the area to be annexed.
Originally, the Wednesday session was expected to be the last meeting of the 24-member commission. Steen said he expects the commission to continue its work into January, after the General Assembly convenes.
Good Neighbors of Rowan County, the anti-annexation group formed to oppose Salisbury’s aborted annexation of N.C. 150 West areas, has chartered a bus.
Carl Eagle, vice president of the Good Neighbor group, said Monday 45 people are signed up. They still have room for about 10 more and expect to have it filled by Wednesday morning.
Anyone wanting to join the Good Neighbors group on the bus may call Eagle at 704-633- 0028.
Although the legislative committee isn’t expected to take public comment, Eagle said it’s important to “show folks we’re watching =… we’re still interested and we want real change in this law.”
Arnold Chamberlain, former county commissioner and resident of Neel Estates off N.C. 150, will be among those on the bus.
Former Commissioner Jim Sides will also attend the session.
Carl Ford, chairman of the Board of Commissioners, will be making the trip.
Ford said Monday he hopes the show of support from Rowan residents and others across the state will make the difference. “I don’t think they can continue to ignore the people,” Ford said.
And some supporters of the existing annexation law will also be attending.
Two Salisbury officials, Doug Paris, assistant to the city manager, and Joe Morris, planning director, will be attending.
Paris said they will monitor the work of the committee.
Steen, who previously served on the House Committee on Annexation, said he isn’t sure what will happen. “Nobody in the House knows where the Senate stands.”
The House Committee recommended a statewide moratorium on forced annexation until the General Assembly had time to review and recommend changes in the annexation law.
During the session earlier this year, the House approved the moratorium bill, but it died in the Senate.
Steen said he is hopeful the committee will support the statewide moratorium, giving the legislature time to revise and revamp the annexation laws.
You may contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.