SUMMERFIELD, N.C. — Update: The Summerfield de-annexation vote has been pushed to May 16.
There are new efforts from the Town of Summerfield to fend off state lawmakers trying to take their land.
You likely remember hearing WFMY News 2 talk about the push to de-annex land from the town, to help push a controversial development project.
With the legislative session beginning soon, the town is pushing back.
Conversations surrounding the de-annexation of nearly 1,000 acres in what town council members call 'the heart of Summerfield' have been going on for a couple of years now.
Summerfield town council member Heath Clay said things have recently intensified, "the fight is now, it's here."
To push back against House Bill 5 [section 8], a bill targeted towards the de-annexation of a portion of Summerfield, the town council thought it would be a good idea to try and hire a PR firm that could help get the word out about this fight back at the end of February of 2024.
During the town's most recent meeting, they officially decided that the cost of hiring a firm would not be worth it with the time they have left before the General Assembly goes into short session.
"Some of them were not interested, some of them were saying you know, you're really behind the 8 ball, you should have talked with us 8 months ago. Now, it's not really so much PR but crisis mode," Clay said.
Now the town is taking a more grassroots approach, sending flyers in the mail to local residents, asking them to join the fight against de-annexation.
Clay said the town needs support from nearby communities, "united we stand, divided we fall."
As for lawmakers in Raleigh, he said they are sending information booklets to them. The town also wants a sit down conversation with Senator Phil Berger and the developer looking to build on this land David Couch to iron things out.
"We're open to negotiation, I don't know what more we can give but what the messaging we are trying to sent to Raleigh is — please don't let this happen," Clay said.
Short session will take place April 24, HB5 will be brought up again. For now, the council asks anyone opposing de-annexation to call their representative.