The Columbus Town Council denied another request for voluntary annexation. No reasons were given. Representatives from Ashley Meadows, a low-income housing development, argued they could no longer afford non-municipal water rates. Calculations showed the town would net $12,000 a year from the annexation. The word “low-income” indicates there may have been certain politically-incorrect expenditures that could not be included in the official tally. It is speculated “some” members of council may have merely been defending constituents’ wishes to keep the town from growing.