Showing posts with label Annexation Laws. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Annexation Laws. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
From Under the Dome: Annexation bill sent off the floor
A bill meant to change the way cities and towns annex property owners is headed back to committee. more...
Emergency Alert from StopNCAnnexation
The following was distributed yesterday by Catherine Heath of StopNCAnnexation:
EMERGENCY ALERT!!
House Bill 524 is on the House Calendar for tomorrow (today, Wednesday, July 8) to be moved forward to passage!!
Listen tomorrow at 3 pm online: http://www.ncleg.net/Audio/Audio.html
Please call your legislator tonight and tomorrow and tell them you oppose this bill and want them to vote against it.
Find contact info for your legislator:
http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/RandR07/Home.html
House Bill 524 is the HOUSE VERSION OF THE RAND/League BILL S472!!
Remember; those are the League approved bills.
524 complements S472.
http://www.nclm.org/Legal-legislative/LegisBulletin061909.htm
Pay no attention to the wailing coming from the League of Municipalities about the vote amendment.
The NCLM is play acting the part they are expected to play.
This Bill is a disaster for real reform and the vote amendment added to it is a cruel joke on us.
The standards for a valid petition to get a vote are close to impossible to meet and, if met, to win against a tax funded municipal campaign by and for the city to win.
What 524 changes in the services requirements will mean higher costs for the victims of forced annexation, not the relief from the financial burdens of forced annexation that we all have asked for.
We need to help the Senate have the freedom to come up with a better bill, and a victory for Rand’s bill would smother that.
Rand is trying to dominate the conversation in the Senate by getting H524 passed out of the House!
He’ll do anything to make that happen, and if the grassroots does not oppose H524, he is succeeding.
That will hobble any chance we have to get a better bill out of the Senate.
And get ready for any vote provision in H524 to disappear once 524 gets to the Senate; _but H524 will NOT disappear.
That is why H524 needs to DIE!
This battle is far from over! The Senate has just begun to work on an annexation reform bill.
Don’t let Tony Rand and the League mess this up!!
If we do not oppose H524, then we will be waiting for many years to come to see real annexation reform. The League approved bills are good for the cities with nothing good for us.
Don’t let those working against us succeed in dividing the grassroots.
Please read the following letter from Ron Thoreson, one of the founders of StopNCAnnexation:
To all who are Grass Roots Annexation Reform believers and workers:
I, Ron Thoreson, am one of the founders of the grassroots effort to change the North Carolina Annexation Laws.
From the beginning, it has always been the true grass roots citizen’s goal to get real annexation reform using a bipartisan approach for reform from our North Carolina Legislative Representatives.
In observing much information from all the recent committee meetings and developments, with different bills and amendments being tossed about, it is critical for all in the current grass roots movement to watch closely for one thing, and that is partisan posturing, deal making and finger pointing.
No one party will make true reform of the North Carolina annexation laws. I am sad to see that some political partisan leaders are now claiming that changes in partisan representation are the only answer to true reform. It is not.
Tell those who are making such claims that they need to work across the aisle, for us, to show others that true reform is defined as being real reform, not some useless legislation that may claim to offer a vote, but stacks all the requirements of getting such vote against the will of the people seeking to have a voice and a vote in the process
Tell your legislators that the only reform is to effectively represent the people they are tasked to serve and give them a real voice and a balanced playing field when it comes to a municipalities desire to annex.
Beware of the partisan and power games that are being played over this subject in the NC Legislature right now. There are power groups on both sides of the aisle that are jockeying to create meaningless legislation that offers no real reform. If left to this outcome, the result will be that annexation laws will not have a chance to be changed again for a minimum of five years.
Ellis Hankins of the North Carolina League of Municipalities argued against annexation reform legislation for years after the bogus 1998 “annexation reform study”, saying that 'such was done and did not need to be done again'. Hankins got his way until this year, 2009…..11 years.
Grassroots workers; don’t be duped into living with a bill that is meaningless! And don’t be duped into an excuse that one partisan group is to blame over the other.
Keep up the fight! Demand nothing less than true reform!
Ron Thoreson,
Co-Founder, StopNCAnnexation
EMERGENCY ALERT!!
House Bill 524 is on the House Calendar for tomorrow (today, Wednesday, July 8) to be moved forward to passage!!
Listen tomorrow at 3 pm online: http://www.ncleg.net/Audio/Audio.html
Please call your legislator tonight and tomorrow and tell them you oppose this bill and want them to vote against it.
Find contact info for your legislator:
http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/RandR07/Home.html
House Bill 524 is the HOUSE VERSION OF THE RAND/League BILL S472!!
Remember; those are the League approved bills.
524 complements S472.
http://www.nclm.org/Legal-legislative/LegisBulletin061909.htm
Pay no attention to the wailing coming from the League of Municipalities about the vote amendment.
The NCLM is play acting the part they are expected to play.
This Bill is a disaster for real reform and the vote amendment added to it is a cruel joke on us.
The standards for a valid petition to get a vote are close to impossible to meet and, if met, to win against a tax funded municipal campaign by and for the city to win.
What 524 changes in the services requirements will mean higher costs for the victims of forced annexation, not the relief from the financial burdens of forced annexation that we all have asked for.
We need to help the Senate have the freedom to come up with a better bill, and a victory for Rand’s bill would smother that.
Rand is trying to dominate the conversation in the Senate by getting H524 passed out of the House!
He’ll do anything to make that happen, and if the grassroots does not oppose H524, he is succeeding.
That will hobble any chance we have to get a better bill out of the Senate.
And get ready for any vote provision in H524 to disappear once 524 gets to the Senate; _but H524 will NOT disappear.
That is why H524 needs to DIE!
This battle is far from over! The Senate has just begun to work on an annexation reform bill.
Don’t let Tony Rand and the League mess this up!!
If we do not oppose H524, then we will be waiting for many years to come to see real annexation reform. The League approved bills are good for the cities with nothing good for us.
Don’t let those working against us succeed in dividing the grassroots.
Please read the following letter from Ron Thoreson, one of the founders of StopNCAnnexation:
To all who are Grass Roots Annexation Reform believers and workers:
I, Ron Thoreson, am one of the founders of the grassroots effort to change the North Carolina Annexation Laws.
From the beginning, it has always been the true grass roots citizen’s goal to get real annexation reform using a bipartisan approach for reform from our North Carolina Legislative Representatives.
In observing much information from all the recent committee meetings and developments, with different bills and amendments being tossed about, it is critical for all in the current grass roots movement to watch closely for one thing, and that is partisan posturing, deal making and finger pointing.
No one party will make true reform of the North Carolina annexation laws. I am sad to see that some political partisan leaders are now claiming that changes in partisan representation are the only answer to true reform. It is not.
Tell those who are making such claims that they need to work across the aisle, for us, to show others that true reform is defined as being real reform, not some useless legislation that may claim to offer a vote, but stacks all the requirements of getting such vote against the will of the people seeking to have a voice and a vote in the process
Tell your legislators that the only reform is to effectively represent the people they are tasked to serve and give them a real voice and a balanced playing field when it comes to a municipalities desire to annex.
Beware of the partisan and power games that are being played over this subject in the NC Legislature right now. There are power groups on both sides of the aisle that are jockeying to create meaningless legislation that offers no real reform. If left to this outcome, the result will be that annexation laws will not have a chance to be changed again for a minimum of five years.
Ellis Hankins of the North Carolina League of Municipalities argued against annexation reform legislation for years after the bogus 1998 “annexation reform study”, saying that 'such was done and did not need to be done again'. Hankins got his way until this year, 2009…..11 years.
Grassroots workers; don’t be duped into living with a bill that is meaningless! And don’t be duped into an excuse that one partisan group is to blame over the other.
Keep up the fight! Demand nothing less than true reform!
Ron Thoreson,
Co-Founder, StopNCAnnexation
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Important Update on Forced Annexation Battle at Legislature
The following was distributed via e-mail by Cathy Heath of the StopNCAnnexation Coalition:
June 21, 2009
NC House Discussing Annexation Reform
The House Judiciary II Committee is working on rolling all the annexation reform bills, GOOD AND BAD, into one bill.
They met Tuesday and Thursday last week and it’s a wrestling match between the city lobbyists and the people.
The people are pulling it their way, but are up against entrenched players at the GA.
It is strength in numbers that is making the difference for the people.
Please come and join others who are driving for hours to be in Raleigh for these meetings and help to tip this over the (NCLM) hump and make this a historic year for real reform!
- Tuesday June 23rd,
- immediately after session
- Room 544 (this was changed from Cathy's initial e-mail; this is a larger room)
- Legislative Office Building in Raleigh.
- Estimated time for the meeting is 5pm.
- Session starts at 3pm so come before 5 and watch the end of session.
IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND:
There will be an audio broadcast of the meeting that you can listen to online:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Audio/Audio.html << Use this link and select Room 544
Lots of red attire in the gallery will be a good thing!
The Proposed Committee Substitute Bill (PCS) discussed on Thursday was horribly slanted in favor of the cities and the people voiced their dissatisfaction with it. Rep. Glazier opened the bill to further amendment and these will be considered on Tuesday. Twenty-two amendments are on the table, one of them is excellent: Amendment #62! THE WHOLE PACKAGE OF REFORM Rep. Tim Moore introduced the full text of H645 to replace the current language of the “PCS” as an amendment. Please contact members and tell them to approve Amendment #62. Other good single issue amendments: - #53 – Adds a VOTE OF THE PEOPLE - #56 & 60 – adds ‘need for meaningful services’ to qualify city annexation attempts. - #57 & 58 – adds the County Commissioners to approve city annexation attempts. Equally important are calls and emails all day Monday to JII Committee members.
Thank them for listening to the people and ask them to approve #62.
June 21, 2009
NC House Discussing Annexation Reform
The House Judiciary II Committee is working on rolling all the annexation reform bills, GOOD AND BAD, into one bill.
They met Tuesday and Thursday last week and it’s a wrestling match between the city lobbyists and the people.
The people are pulling it their way, but are up against entrenched players at the GA.
It is strength in numbers that is making the difference for the people.
Please come and join others who are driving for hours to be in Raleigh for these meetings and help to tip this over the (NCLM) hump and make this a historic year for real reform!
- Tuesday June 23rd,
- immediately after session
- Room 544 (this was changed from Cathy's initial e-mail; this is a larger room)
- Legislative Office Building in Raleigh.
- Estimated time for the meeting is 5pm.
- Session starts at 3pm so come before 5 and watch the end of session.
IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND:
There will be an audio broadcast of the meeting that you can listen to online:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Audio/Audio.html << Use this link and select Room 544
Lots of red attire in the gallery will be a good thing!
The Proposed Committee Substitute Bill (PCS) discussed on Thursday was horribly slanted in favor of the cities and the people voiced their dissatisfaction with it. Rep. Glazier opened the bill to further amendment and these will be considered on Tuesday. Twenty-two amendments are on the table, one of them is excellent: Amendment #62! THE WHOLE PACKAGE OF REFORM Rep. Tim Moore introduced the full text of H645 to replace the current language of the “PCS” as an amendment. Please contact members and tell them to approve Amendment #62. Other good single issue amendments: - #53 – Adds a VOTE OF THE PEOPLE - #56 & 60 – adds ‘need for meaningful services’ to qualify city annexation attempts. - #57 & 58 – adds the County Commissioners to approve city annexation attempts. Equally important are calls and emails all day Monday to JII Committee members.
Thank them for listening to the people and ask them to approve #62.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Daren Bakst outlines annexation abuse in Wilmington
Daren Bakst of The John Locke Foundation continues his series on forced annexation and annexation abuse in Wilmington.
Click here for more.
Click here for more.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Forced Annexation in Wilmington
by Daren Bakst of the John Locke Foundation
Wilmington's Annexation Abuse
If property owners are being forcibly annexed and want water and sewer services, they must request water and sewer lines be provided to their property within 5 days after what is called a public hearing. The public hearing is basically a venting session where annexation victims can tell city commissioners (who don't listen) what they think about the annexation.
Wilmington just had their public hearing this week. As I was looking on the city's annexation web page, I saw the FAQ document the city developed for the annexation victims. This is the document many people will read (as opposed to the unintelligible annexation plan) Here's something it said:
“How long will it take to get water and sewer service?
Installation of water and sewer lines will occur in two phases. First, the major water and sewer lines that all other smaller lines feed into must be constructed. Then, the smaller hookups to individual residences and businesses will occur. The city plans to have both phases completed within two years of the effective date of the annexation; however, by state law only the first phase must be completed within two years of the effective date of annexation.”
more
Wilmington's Annexation Abuse
If property owners are being forcibly annexed and want water and sewer services, they must request water and sewer lines be provided to their property within 5 days after what is called a public hearing. The public hearing is basically a venting session where annexation victims can tell city commissioners (who don't listen) what they think about the annexation.
Wilmington just had their public hearing this week. As I was looking on the city's annexation web page, I saw the FAQ document the city developed for the annexation victims. This is the document many people will read (as opposed to the unintelligible annexation plan) Here's something it said:
“How long will it take to get water and sewer service?
Installation of water and sewer lines will occur in two phases. First, the major water and sewer lines that all other smaller lines feed into must be constructed. Then, the smaller hookups to individual residences and businesses will occur. The city plans to have both phases completed within two years of the effective date of the annexation; however, by state law only the first phase must be completed within two years of the effective date of annexation.”
more
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Wilmington: Battle lines are drawn as City Council approves annexation
WWAY TV3: Council chambers were packed with residents in red who oppose the forced annexation of Monkey Junction. All but one council member voted to move forward with the annexation process. more...
Cary Tea Party Protests Annexation Re-Zoning Along Swift Creek Watershed
Hundreds of citizens are expected to rally before the Cary Town Hall Feb. 12th before the Town Council's public hearing. They gather for a Cary Tea Party to voice their opposition to the forced annexation of their Wake County homes. more...
Goldsboro will wait on state for ruling on annexing
Goldsboro News-Argus -- Goldsboro Mayor Al King and Mayor Pro-tem Chuck Allen say they will hold off on any involuntary annexation until the state legislature decides its next move on the subject.
Currently, the legislature is looking at allowing citizens to vote on whether or not they want to be annexed into city limits.
And although they believe the idea is a bad one, King and Allen say there are some adjustments that need to be made to the legislation. more...
Problems With Forced Annexation Exposed in New Guide
Carolina Journal Online: North Carolina has an "extreme" annexation law that needs major reform. That's the assessment of a John Locke Foundation expert who outlines the law's flaws in a new Q&A guide to forced annexation.
"My analysis of the level of recourse provided to property owners targeted for forced annexation shows that 48 states -- virtually every other state in the country -- have abandoned North Carolina's outdated approach to forced annexation," said Daren Bakst, the guide's author. "The 4.1 million North Carolinians who live in unincorporated areas make up 46 percent of the state's population. These are the people who could become victims of forced annexation. They deserve better than this state's current annexation law." more...
"My analysis of the level of recourse provided to property owners targeted for forced annexation shows that 48 states -- virtually every other state in the country -- have abandoned North Carolina's outdated approach to forced annexation," said Daren Bakst, the guide's author. "The 4.1 million North Carolinians who live in unincorporated areas make up 46 percent of the state's population. These are the people who could become victims of forced annexation. They deserve better than this state's current annexation law." more...
Washington, N.C. City Council Closer to Starting Annexation
Washington Daily News (2/10/09): The Washington City Council unanimously adopted a resolution Monday that identifies four nearby areas the city may want to annex. more...
Monday, February 02, 2009
Protecting Private Property Rights included in AFP's legislative agenda
Americans for Prosperity of North Carolina has included protecting private property rights as one of the key issues in its 2009 legislative agenda.
From an e-mail recently distributed by AFP-NC:
From an e-mail recently distributed by AFP-NC:
Protect private property:
o Support a constitutional amendment stopping eminent domain abuse.
o Stop forced municipal annexation.
o Stop excessive property tax increases that threaten homes & businesses.
Blueprint for Annexation Reform
The John Locke Foundation recently published a Blueprint for Annexation Reform; it can be viewed here.
From StopNCAnnexation: Annexation Law Tweaks vs the Truth
The NCLM (NC League of Municipalities) had their usual say in the N&O recently:
How N.C. should tweak its annexation laws
The city lobbyists claim that the law requires cities to provide a long list of urban services, but the truth is not so simply stated nor the bar necessarily so high. What do the laws require of the cities? It depends… it depends on what the city has to offer in the first place. Each annexation requires different responsibilities from the annexing city because the law allows such a wide variation regarding what the city must provide. The law allows cities that don’t even have their own fire and police departments to forcibly annex. more...
How N.C. should tweak its annexation laws
The city lobbyists claim that the law requires cities to provide a long list of urban services, but the truth is not so simply stated nor the bar necessarily so high. What do the laws require of the cities? It depends… it depends on what the city has to offer in the first place. Each annexation requires different responsibilities from the annexing city because the law allows such a wide variation regarding what the city must provide. The law allows cities that don’t even have their own fire and police departments to forcibly annex. more...
Articles & Info on Forced Annexation in NC
The John Locke Foundation has compiled this excellent resource:
Forced Annexation in N.C.: A question-and-answer guide.
Winston-Salem Journal - Right to Vote? N.C.'s legislators divided on giving power to targets of forced annexation
News14 - Study commission votes to stop NC annexation
Carolina Journal - Pinehurst, Pinewild Feud Over Annexation
WWAY - Sunset Beach moving forward with annexation
Wilmington Star-News - Wilmington expands proposed Monkey Junction annexation area
Statesville Record & Landmark - Hearing nears on Langtree annexation
Forced Annexation in N.C.: A question-and-answer guide.
Winston-Salem Journal - Right to Vote? N.C.'s legislators divided on giving power to targets of forced annexation
News14 - Study commission votes to stop NC annexation
Carolina Journal - Pinehurst, Pinewild Feud Over Annexation
WWAY - Sunset Beach moving forward with annexation
Wilmington Star-News - Wilmington expands proposed Monkey Junction annexation area
WRAL - Wake County residents fight annexation
Statesville Record & Landmark - Hearing nears on Langtree annexation
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Lawmakers meeting on changing annexation rules
RALEIGH, N.C. — A committee is trying to respond to citizen complaints about the way North Carolina cities and towns acquire unincorporated areas.
The panel of legislators, municipal leaders and the public is slated to meet Thursday to recommend changes to the full Legislature about involuntary annexation laws.
Grass-roots groups and citizens attending the committee's public hearings are unhappy with how some towns and cities have annexed land. They want lawmakers to require municipalities to provide promised services more quickly and to give reisdents of the targeted areas more say over whether annexations happen. more...
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Newspapers cover candidates' positions on property rights
The Burlington Times-News asked State Senate candidates Tony Foriest (D-incumbent) and Rick Gunn (R) questions related to annexation and stormwater rules in a recent candidate survey. The candidates' responses are linked here.
The Wilmington Star-News asked Senate candidates R.C. Soles (D-incumbent) and Bettie Fennell about annexation. Their responses are listed here.
The Lexington Dispatch raises the annexation issue in the race between State Representative Hugh Holliman (D) and Republican challenger Rayne Brown. Read the article here.
If you know of other news items which reveal where candidates in North Carolina stand on property rights-related issues, please e-mail them to us at info@ncpropertyrights.com.
The Wilmington Star-News asked Senate candidates R.C. Soles (D-incumbent) and Bettie Fennell about annexation. Their responses are listed here.
The Lexington Dispatch raises the annexation issue in the race between State Representative Hugh Holliman (D) and Republican challenger Rayne Brown. Read the article here.
If you know of other news items which reveal where candidates in North Carolina stand on property rights-related issues, please e-mail them to us at info@ncpropertyrights.com.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
2008 N.C. Property Rights Voter Guide Now Available
The 2008 N.C. Property Rights Voter Guide is now available on our Web site. Click here to find out where the candidates stand on protecting private property rights.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Property Rights Voter Guide -- Coming Soon
Late last week, the N.C. Property Rights Coalition mailed a 12-question candidate survey to every legislative candidate in North Carolina, as well as candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General. We will use candidates' responses to publish a voter guide to let citizens know where candidates stand when it comes to private property rights.
Please encourage every candidate you know, regardless of party affiliation, to return our survey. Private property rights are one of the cornerstones of our free society, and we should know where they stand on this important issue.
Please encourage every candidate you know, regardless of party affiliation, to return our survey. Private property rights are one of the cornerstones of our free society, and we should know where they stand on this important issue.
N.C. Property Rights Coalition launches new Facebook group
The NCPRC recently ventured into the world of social networking by launching a new Facebook group. Click here to join.
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