Council gives informal OK for buyer to settle while Savells Addition annexation proceeds

The Taneytown Mayor and City Council indicated no objection at the April 14 meeting to allowing a buyer to close on a house in the pending Savells Addition annexation and to begin using water and sewer services while technical annexation questions continue to be resolved.

City Manager Jim said the annexation packet had been submitted to Carroll County and the state planning department and that the county raised technical questions about the radius of a curve on the annexation plat. Staff allowed construction of required sewer improvements but withheld final signature on the plumbing permit pending completion of the annexation process. Because completing the county and state review could take months, Jim asked for council consensus to permit the buyer to settle and start using utilities while the annexation continues through formal steps.

Jim said the annexation consent and agreement are irrevocable and that the only way the annexation would not go through was if the city voted against it. He also said the city attorney had reviewed the approach and had not expressed concerns. Council members were asked for a yes-or-no consensus; the record shows the council agreed and no member objected to allowing settlement and utility use while the annexation proceeds.

The council did not take a formal roll-call vote on the matter; the action was recorded as a consensus decision rather than a motioned approval. Staff said they will continue to work with Carroll County and the state planning department to respond to technical questions and complete the annexation process.