Annexation passions boil over

From the Asheville Citizen-Times:

RALEIGH — Some 200 people from Asheville to Wilmington who filled an auditorium Wednesday at the General Assembly sent lawmakers a message that while they may have put off a decision on annexation, the issue isn’t going away.

Lawmakers might even have to vote on it.

After the public hearing, Rep. Charles Thomas said he would make another attempt to stop cities from unilaterally annexing surrounding neighborhoods. more...

N&O: Homeowners hiss annexation law

From The News & Observer:

Homeowners from around the state booed at mayors and hissed at suit-wearing honchos Wednesday as they met in Raleigh to talk annexation.

The two sides clashed during a hearing before state lawmakers on a proposal to study North Carolina's controversial annexation law. The law has sparked remarkable vitriol in homeowners' hearts for decades because it allows municipalities to annex their land without the homeowners' permission. more...

Public Seeks Fairer Annexation Rules

From the Winston-Salem Journal:

Residents from across North Carolina asked state legislators last night to modify the state law that allows cities to engage in involuntary annexation.

North Carolina is one of a handful of states that allow involuntary annexation - a practice by which a city acquires new property and new tax-paying residents even if the affected residents do not wish to join the city. more...

Pinehurst Forcibly Annexes Community

[WRAL] - The Village Council voted unanimously Friday to annex the Pinewild community.

Pinewild, a gated golf course community developed in the 1980s, fought the annexation for months. Many of the residents said they believe Pinehurst just wants the tax revenue they would generate. more...

Report: Forced Annexation is Undemocratic and Harmful To Minority Communities

This article, published on the Carolina Journal Online, gives an insight to the harms of forced annexation.

Forced Annexation Song & Dance

This article was published earlier this week in The Locker Room.

Legislative Public Hearing on Annexation Set for June 13

The following meeting notice was distributed via e-mail yesterday:

NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
2007-2008 SESSION

The House Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House will hold a Public Hearing

Day & Date: Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Time: 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Location: Legislative Auditorium

Comments: Pursuant to House Rule 29.1, the chair of the House Rules Committee announces a public hearing to consider a Proposed Committee Substitute for HB 86, Study Municipal Annexation. Persons desiring to appear and be heard shall submit their requests by Tuesday, June 12, to Representative Paul Luebke, Room 529, Legislative Office Building. Also, persons who wish to submit a brief written statement of testimony without oral presentation may, by Tuesday, June 12, submit these statements to Representative Paul Luebke.

The views of interested parties will be heard concerning a PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL 86 – AN ACT TO DIRECT THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION TO STUDY MUNICIPAL ANNEXATION.

Sponsors: Representatives Thomas and Goforth.

Representative Owens, Chair

I hereby certify this notice was filed by the rules clerk at the following offices at 2:15 o’clock p.m. on June 05, 2007.

X Principal Clerk

X Reading Clerk - House Chamber

Dot Crocker (Rules Clerk)

Eminent Domain in N.C.: The Case for Real Reform

The John Locke Foundation recently released a report on eminent domain in North Carolina.

House bill would authorize an annexation study commission

According to this article from News14.com, a House bill would authorize a study commission to analyze North Carolina's current annexation laws. From the article: "Just when it looked like the more than a dozen bills dealing with involuntary annexation were dead, one still has life."

Dome: All Five Candidates for Governor Support Eminent Domain Amendment

The News & Observer's Under the Dome blog has been posting a series of entries outlining where the various candidates for governor stand on the eminent domain amendment and other key issues. According to Dome, all five probable major candidates for governor support the eminent domain amendment:

DEMOCRATS:
Richard Moore - supports eminent domain amendment
Beverly Perdue - supports eminent domain amendment

REPUBLICANS:
Bill Graham - supports eminent domain amendment
Bob Orr - supports eminent domain amendment
Fred Smith - supports eminent domain amendment

Rocky Mount Telegram Weighs in on Eminent Domain Amendment

Click here to read their May 29 editorial.

Sowell on Eminent Domain.

This post by Mitch Kokai on The Locker Room is worth a read.

Status of Eminent Domain Amendment

The eminent domain amendment (House Bill 878) that passed the N.C. House last week was referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee on May 29. The committee members are listed below.

Chairman: Sen. Charlie S. Dannelly.

Vice Chairman: Sen. David F. Weinstein.

Members:
Sen. Charles W. Albertson
Sen. Austin M. Allran
Sen. Bob Atwater
Sen. James Forrester
Sen. Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr.
Sen. David W. Hoyle
Sen. Neal Hunt
Sen. Clark Jenkins
Sen. John H. Kerr III
Sen. Vernon Malone
Sen. A. B Swindell