Halifax County commissioners and Roanoke Rapids City Council have approved resolutions asking state lawmakers to strike a contentious portion of a proposed Senate bill that would allow Franklin County to annex property in Halifax, Vance, and Warren counties without consent.

Commissioners approved a resolution during an emergency meeting Thursday night, and the council approved a similar resolution this morning.

Roanoke Rapids notes in its resolution that it is the largest municipality in the county and that its residents have a vested interest in issues of land use, condemnation, and property taxation decided by the Halifax County Board of Commissioners.

That is because, the city’s document says, citizens of the city elect and are represented by both the Roanoke Rapids City Council and the Halifax County Board of Commissioners.

The county resolution says that Franklin County is seeking to deprive Halifax County of its statutory authority to consent to Franklin’s condemnation or other acquisition of real property through Part 5 of Senate Bill 214. Under current general statutes, condemnation proceedings must have the approval of the Halifax County Board of Commissioners.

The resolution states: “Though it may be appropriate for a county to pursue local legislation for authority to take some action not otherwise authorized under the North Carolina general statutes, it is entirely inappropriate for Franklin County to seek local legislation that would deprive Halifax County of its authority under the North Carolina general statutes.”

The county’s resolution further claims that Franklin County officials have refused to discuss the legislation or provide explanations concerning its reasons “for seeking to deprive Halifax County of its statutory authority.” 

It asserts that Part 5 “represents an egregious, troubling, and unprecedented overreach that undermines the principles of local governance and threatens regional cooperation and trust.”

The state House on Wednesday pulled the bill from its calendar and is scheduled to vote on the matter Tuesday.