By Peter Biello
Wilmington, NC – The Southport Board of Aldermen meets this morning to hammer out the details of annexing 93 acres.
This patch of land is a mix of homes and businesses in between two separate parts of the city.
Many of those residents have septic systems. They also use the city's water and pay an outside the city fee. This fee would be waived if the area is annexed.
Southport Alderman Paul Fisher says if the board approves annexation, he wants to bring the city's sewer system to those residents as soon as possible.
"Eventually when this county gets sewer out that far, it'll be available through the county and they'll have to hook onto that."
City Manager Alan Thornton says property taxes for annexed residents may come before the city sewer system is available.
"The city will seek to provide those services as quickly as we possibly can. By statute, we're required to have them in place within two years of the effective date of the annexation," he says.
Residents of the annexed territory would also receive increased police coverage, a bill for sewer services and a sharp rise in property taxes.
Residents will have a chance to voice their concerns at a public hearing in November.
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