NEWTON GROVE — The town board voted to take no action regarding a request from Raeford Daughtry to spot annex a portion of his property. Citing the annexation request as an impractical risk ,the board took no action to approve the request.
According to Amanda Turner, acting town clerk, the town’s annexation ordinance stated that in order for the town to annex property it had to be within three miles of the town’s limits. According to Daughtry’s personal measurement, the spot he requested to annex exceeded the three mile requirement.
Attorney Billy Sutton informed the board that a wavier could be granted but warned that it would only be in affect for the current owner of the property. The wavier would stipulate that the town did not have to provide water and sewer service to the stated property, however if a new owner wished for the annexed property to receive those services, the town would most likely be required to provide the service at the town’s expense to run the lines to the property.
Commissioner Gary Mac Herring shared that he had questioned the School of Governments on the matter and stated that the they confirmed Sutton’s remarks.
“I feel that it is just too much of a risk for the town to take. The cost of running water and sewer lines to that property would be astronomical and the town cannot afford to take such a chance.
Daughtry requested the spot annexation in order to rent the building located on the property to an interested individual who would operate a restaurant and wished to sell alcohol, and herefore would need an ABC permit. The annexation would allow the town to grant an ABC permit for the business.
With the board voting to take no action, the issue virtually ended.
In other business, mayor Gerald Darden informed the board that work on the Itinerant Merchant ordinance was still in progress but changes that had been made included: No Sunday sales, no tent requirement and not to require the ordinance board to approve applications.
“The main thing we are waiting on now is a response from Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and the N.C. Department of Agriculture regarding farmers and fishermen selling their products in regards to this ordinance. Hopefully we will have the new ordinance in place to begin the new year,” remarked Darden.
The mayor also shared that the auditors were visiting and had expressed concern at the number of water customers that were either past due on their accounts or making only partial payments.
“The auditors are calling our hand about the delinquent water accounts. They are telling us we must clamp down on those customers that are behind in their payments. What is the desire of the board?” cited Darden.
By unaimous consent, the board members approved the clerk clamp down on water customers that are delinqent in their accounts. Turner stated that cutoffs would be conducted on the 10th of the month so customers who are past due should attempt to catch up their water bills prior to Nov. 10 to prevent disconnection of service.
The commissioners appointed Charles Tart for a two-year term and Richard “Dick” Warren for a one-year term on the ABC Board.
A bid of $600 for repairs and replacement of the gutters on the town hall building was accepted by the board.
Police chief Frankie Harrell reported that the new radios had been installed in the police cruisers and they were awaiting codes from the state in order to activate the equipment as a follow up from the meeting last month.
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