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http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/residents-say-no-to-annexation-165063.html

Residents say no to annexation | By Eric Klamut | Rocky Mount Telegram | Thursday, October 02, 2008

A few hundred residents who Rocky Mount is proposing to annex met with city officials Tuesday evening regarding the second phase of Rocky Mount's annexation plan.

A crowd of residents who live in the vicinity of Old Carriage Road — which lies in the largest proposed annexation area of more than 1,380 acres — filled the cafeteria at Nash Central High School to standing-room only.

As Assistant City Manager Peter Varney began his presentation on phase two of the proposed annexation plan, residents began shouting comments.

"I don't want no part of Rocky Mount," one man shouted.

Varney said he and city staff members understand the residents' concerns.

"We know this is not a popular subject," he said. "We know that every soul in this room is opposed to annexation."

The five areas to be involuntarily annexed by Rocky Mount include more than 2,200 people and 1,733 acres of land in both Nash and Edgecombe counties.

The second phase of the city's annexation plan comes on the heels of the recent annexation of 2,500 residents and 3,722 acres of property in both counties.

The initial phase of the annexation plan was effective June 30.

The City Council recently approved an annexation report that outlines the proposed areas to be annexed and services that will be provided to new residents if city leaders approve the measure.

If approved by the City Council, the second phase of annexation will be effective Dec. 31, 2009, and bring more than $93 million of assessed property into Rocky Mount.

If the annexation is approved, any new city residents will pay a 58-cent property tax for each $100 valuation of assessed property; a monthly charge of $10.25 for garbage collection and recycling; and a stormwater charge of $3.75 per month.

For county residents annexed into the city, fire district taxes and individual street lighting charges would be eliminated.

Businesses also could see a reduction in fire insurance rates, city officials said.

Residents continued to denounce the proposed annexation throughout the meeting. Following the presentation, Varney and members of the Rocky Mount Planning Department answered questions from residents.

"This is America," one resident said. "Everybody in America has a chance to vote for what you want and don't want. Why don't we have a vote?"

Varney explained under N.C. General Assembly statutes, municipalities are permitted to involuntarily annex areas outside of the city limits in order to grow.

"We did it in the 1970s, '80s and '90s," Varney said. "And we've done it again this year."

Some residents questioned whether they could stop the annexation.

Varney advised residents to contact members of the City Council, local legislators and attend public meetings scheduled in the near future.

A public informational meeting will be held Oct. 28. A location, Varney said, will be determined. The City Council is expected to hold a public hearing on the second phase of annexation Nov. 10.

The council will consider an annexation ordinance at its Nov. 24 meeting.

For more information on the proposed annexation plan, visit www.rockymountnc.gov/annexation.html.

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