Considering the fact that the City of Lexington has been so anxious to involuntarily annex outlying areas, it’s somewhat ironic that the City Council does an about-face and denies a merchant’s voluntary annexation request.

City planning director Tammy Kepley told the council “there was nothing about the business or the property owners that caused her staff and the planning board to make their decision” to deny the merchant’s request.

But when you read that the merchant requestong annexation is Spartan Guns and Ammo, you can’t help but be somewhat skeptical.