Council directs clerk to investigate annexation petition for West Smithfield Elementary site

The Town of Smithfield Council on March 4 adopted a resolution directing the town clerk to investigate the sufficiency of a voluntary annexation petition for the West Smithfield Elementary School satellite site, identified in council materials as ANX-25-02.

Town staff said the parcel would be a satellite (noncontiguous) annexation that lies near an existing satellite annexation at the Elk Creek subdivision. "We've received a petition for annexation. It would be a satellite annexation," a town staff member said. The town noted that annexation would obligate the town to provide municipal services in the area, including law enforcement coverage and the potential placement of a school resource officer if the council later authorizes one.

Why it matters: If processed and later approved by the council after the required public hearing(s), annexation would bring the parcel under Town of Smithfield jurisdiction for municipal services and local regulation. The school system currently has a sheriff's deputy assigned; the town-staff explanation was that annexation would allow the town to provide a school resource officer under the town's existing cost-sharing arrangement with the county school system.

Council action and procedural steps

Council directed the town clerk to investigate the petition's sufficiency with a motion, second and unanimous vote. The town manager described this as the first step in the statutory annexation process; if the petition is certified sufficient the council would next order a public hearing and later hold that hearing on the annexation proposal.

Council members asked clarifying questions about current service coverage and the school resource officer contract. Staff said the area already receives regular police and fire coverage from the town and county, and characterized the school resource officer relationship as an annual agreement in which the school system pays about 80% and the town about 20% of the cost; staff said the town is open to longer contracts but had been cautious about long-term commitments because of changing salary and benefit obligations.

Outcome

Motion to adopt Resolution No. 768 directing the town clerk to investigate the sufficiency of a voluntary annexation petition (ANX-25-02) — motion and second recorded; "Aye" votes and no opposition were recorded. The town clerk will proceed with the sufficiency investigation and staff will return to the council with the results and, if sufficient, an order to set a public hearing at a future meeting.