LAUREL HILL — Former City Councilman Johnny James and his wife, Earnestine's, property is closer to being annexed into the city.
The council on Thursday voted 3-1 — with Councilman Scott Moneypenny dissenting — to accept the Jameses' petition for annexation.
Now, the matter needs to be passed by ordinance, but there is some confusion about how to handle that.
At Council Chairman Larry Hendren's request, Councilwoman Debra Adams amended her motion to accept the Jameses' petition, as long as a land-planning consultant guides the city through the annexation process.
James needs to pay $950 to cover anticipated consultant's costs, Hendren initially said.
But upon reviewing itemized fees stipulated in a 2007 city annexation resolution, Adams said the Jameses met the requirements and paid the correct $2,050 fee.
Several residents spoke in favor of the Jameses' petition.
"There was no problem taking his check," one resident said. "To stand there and say, 'We're not going to do it' — that's not right. The man has jumped through hoops."
"We (want) to bring people into our city but we're fighting as hard as we can to not bring this man into our city," Adams said.
Moneypenny said his concern was having taxpayers cover the $950.
Adams said the council shouldn't even have the discussion because James met the city's requirements for annexation, including filing the correct fee.
"This should already have been an ordinance on the agenda, ready to go, because he (James) did what the resolution said," Adams said. "It shouldn't be a request … according to Florida statutes."
Johnny James stepped down from the city council dais in April after learning his property was outside city limits.
Asked if he wants to serve as a council member again, following annexation, he said, "I don't know. I want to take care of first things first."
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Former Laurel Hill councilman's land closer to annexation, but process gets complicated