High Point Mayor Becky Smothers and the City Council are officially voicing their opposition to a bill sponsored by Reps. Rayne Brown and Jerry Dockham that would give the Davidson County Board of Commissioners the authority to block annexations by municipalities—- i.e. HP—- that are located primarily outside the county.
Fair enough — as the HPE points out — High Point has made one involuntary annexation attempt in neighboring Davidson County in 20 years. But the issue has flared up again as HP plans to expand its Westside Wastewater Treatment plant into Davidson.
What’s interesting, though, is how the council frames opposition to the bill as a property rights issue:
“The issue is going to be those people that want to sell their land. Access to sewer is what they’re going to have to have,” said Councilman Latimer Alexander. “I find that just amazing that the party of limited government wants to spend their time removing property rights.”
Smothers is sending the letter stating the city’s opposition to Rep. Julia Howard, who is chair of the House Finance Committee.
