Staff report
State Rep. Fred Steen, R-Rowan, reports that the House Select Committee on Municipal Annexations has agreed to draft a bill calling for a moratorium on involuntary annexations throughout the state.
The bill will ask for a moratorium on forced annexations and satellite annexations through July 1, 2009.
The full N.C. House will consider the measure during the short session, which begins May 13.
Steen belongs to the 10-member committee, which has been studying the 1959 annexation law and holding public hearings on the issue.
More than 100 people from Rowan County ó mostly opponents from a recent Salisbury attempt to annex the N.C. 150 area ó attended the committee’s public hearing in Raleigh April 16.
Steen said there were two “no” votes on the moratorium proposal among the 10-member committee Wednesday.
Steen voted for the moratorium, although he said he does not agree with a moratorium on satellite annexations.
“I agree totally with the moratorium on forced annexations,” he said in an e-mal.