AHOSKIE – The timetable to annex four areas around Ahoskie has changed.

Ahoskie Town Manager Tony Hammond said at Tuesday’s meeting of the Ahoskie Town Council that the effective date of the annexation will now be Oct. 18. That process comes nearly two months earlier than the original effective date of Dec. 12.

Hammond also informed Town Council members that the North Carolina House of Representatives voted earlier this week not to proceed at this time with a statewide moratorium on municipal annexation. There were indications that the State House would enact legislation putting a moratorium in place from July 30, 2008 until April 30, 2009.

“That apparently isn’t going to occur this year; the House voted to delay that action for at least one year, which is good news for the Town of Ahoskie,” Hammond said.

Without a moratorium looming in the background, Ahoskie Town Council members agreed to proceed with a new timetable in regards to annexing the areas of Colonial Acres, North Catherine Creek Road (north of Malibu Drive), NC 561 East (Harrellsville Highway) and NC 42 West.

At their June 30 meeting, the town’s governing body unanimously approved a resolution of intent to move forward with the annexation process. In doing so, the Town Council also established a timetable concerning annexation, one that was altered on Tuesday to include the following:

Complete by July 20 n annexation report; financial impact statements delivered to the Hertford County Board of Commissioners; post map and list of property owners in Town Clerk’s office; and post notice on property and in public places.

Complete by July 21 n notify property owners by First-Class mail and provide notice of intent to annex to the Ahoskie Rural Fire Department and Solid Waste services.

Between Aug. 4 and Aug. 11 n publish combined notice of public informational meeting and public hearing once a week for two successive weeks.

Complete by Aug. 9 n provide copy of resolution of intent to Solid Waste services.

Complete by Aug. 14 n deadline for Volunteer Fire Department requests for good faith offer to contract.

Aug. 19 n hold a public informational meeting at which time all residents and property owners in the proposed areas of annexation will have the process and services explained to them and will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

Aug. 29 n conduct a public hearing.

Sept. 8 – adopt an annexation ordinance.

Oct. 18 – effective date of annexation.

Hammond said town services to the annexed areas, such as fire, police and garbage pick-up, must start immediately. Water and sewer construction must start within 12 months.