Scottsburg holds first reading on annexation of noncontiguous parcel for city water plant; 60-day public notice required

The Scottsburg Common Council on Feb. 24 held a first reading of Ordinance 2025-4, which would annex a noncontiguous parcel into the city's corporate limits to include the municipal water plant.

Council members explained the annexation is intended to place the water plant inside city limits and that a prior resolution by the council and the water department transferred the parcel to the Department of Water Works. The parcel containing a residence that sits near the plant will be combined with the plant parcel for the legal description, council members said.

Council discussion focused on the legal limits of using a noncontiguous annexation statute; one councilmember noted that using the noncontiguous annexation method for a utility plant does not permit the city to then annex neighboring private properties under the same statute. A GIS map showing the parcel and adjacent properties was referenced but not included in the meeting packet, a councilmember said.

The council voted in favor of the ordinance's first reading with no recorded opposition. The presiding officer noted a statutory timeline: the annexation requires publication and a 60-day interval before the council can return the item for final consideration and possible adoption.

The transcript did not include the full ordinance text or the exact dates for the public notice; a staff member (identified in the meeting as Jill) was referenced as holding further details that were not read into the record.