No!
Even though the General Assembly did not move forward on real reform to prevent property owners from being annexed against their will in North Carolina (see here and here and here and here and here and here for missed opportunities), forward thinking leaders like Duplin County Commissioner, David Fussell continues the fight to preserve property rights. The following is a resolution that he will propose to the full Duplin County Commission, recommending adoption on October 5, 2009:
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF DUPLIN
WHEREAS, ?We hold these truths to be self
evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of
Happiness. – That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed,? – THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCEWHEREAS, When municipalities initiate annexations, they should be required to provide meaningful
services to the areas they propose to annex,WHEREAS, under current North Carolina law,
municipalities can basically do whatever they want when it
comes to forced annexation and the residents in the affected
areas do not have a right to vote on whether or not they want
to be annexed,WHEREAS, County Commissioners are elected to
represent the best interest of the municipality, as well as
the affective citizens who live in the proposed annexed area
and represent the interest of the overall community,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Duplin County Board of Commissioners, Hereby Petition the General Assembly of
North Carolina to amend the laws of this State to Prohibit
the Involuntary Annexation of Private Land by any
Municipality without first obtaining a Resolution of Support
for the Annexation from the duly elected Board of Commissioners
of the County in which the property is located. The County Commissioners should
not adopt any Resolution of Support or Opposition to the
annexation without first holding a Public Hearing and
conducting a Referendum of the Voters in the Area Proposed for Annexation.
Thank you Commissioner Fussell. Nice to see some leaders in our state believe this fight against forced annexation is worth fighting.