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Sign Our Online Petition Against Forced Annexation
Calendar of Events and Updates
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About Good Neighbors United (GNU) GNU was formed to stop the involuntary annexation of an area Northwest of Goldsboro, NC known as Phase XI, Section E of the Goldsboro expansion plan. The area includes land and residences along the east and west sides of Salem Church Road, the north and south sides of Buck Swamp Road, and includes the sub divisions of Ashby Hills, Fallingbrook Estates, Morgan Trace, Buck Run, Pine View Acres, and Canterbury Village. The area encompasses some 400 plus acres, 372 homes, and 11 21 people, this number is an estimate based on census formulas and is not an actual head count. The organization also includes residents of Phase XII which includes Marsh Landing, North Creek, North Point, Lane Tree Village, and that part of Canterbury Village not included in Phase XI. Residents from these areas joined the GNU because Phase XII annexation will shortly follow Phase XI. The long range goal of GNU is to support state legislation that will change current state statutes that deny affected residents the right to vote on annexations. Other “stop annexation groups” across the state have joined together in this effort. On March 25, 2004 the City of Goldsboro held a public information meeting at Lane Tree Golf Club. The purpose of the meeting was to inform residents of Phase XI about services the city would provide if the annexation was passed by the city council. On April 2, 2004 residents of Phase XI and some residents of Phase XII met in the annex of Salem Church Road Methodist Church and discussed issues relating to the annexation. At that time the group, as yet unnamed, decided to hire an attorney to represent them should the council pass the vote. On April 5, 2004 a Public Hearing was held before the Goldsboro City Council. The purpose of the hearing is to allow the public the opportunity to speak for or against the annexation. Approximately 350 people were in attendance, 39 elected to speak, and not one speaker spoke in favor of the annexation. A petition against the annexation with over 400 signatures was submitted to the city council. On April 8, 2004 the group met at the Belfast Fire Department. At that meeting the group adopted the name Good Neighbors United, elected a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. A fund drive was started to off set litigation fees and a bank account and PO Box was established the next day. Attorney contract papers were signed with James Eldridge of Wilmington, NC on April 9, 2004. On April 19, 2004 a rally was held at Goldsboro City Hall to protest the annexation which was to be voted on that night by the city council. State Senators Fred Smith and Tony Moore joined the group at city hall to voice their opposition of involuntary annexations. Attorney Jim Eldridge also attended the rally and attended the City Council meeting with the GNU. The council voted five to two in favor of the annexation. The April 19th vote started the calendar on a 60 day window in which GNU will file a petition with the courts to rescind the annexation. That work is currently in progress. At this time GNU’s main efforts are concentrating on raising funds to off set legal fees associated with the court petition. The court process is expected to be both complex and lengthy; however; this fight is everyone’s fight because of the continued encroachment of citizens rights by out dated annexation statutes. Please support our efforts and be a part of the solution by sending your contributions to Good Neighbors United, PO Box 1174, Goldsboro, NC, 27533.
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to visit our website! Thanks for your support!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006