Scottsburg — The Scottsburg City Council on Monday approved second readings of three annexation ordinances and unanimously passed a resolution authorizing limited budgetary transfers and the encumbrance of unfinished 2025 funds into 2026.

Council members advanced annexation measures for several contiguous properties associated with local landowners and institutions. One ordinance covered five parcels connected to Elevation Church, three of which already lie inside the city and two that the church recently purchased and requested be annexed so they fall fully within city limits. Council members said access to city services, including fire protection, is a primary reason property owners seek annexation.

Another ordinance (2025-23) covers the Herbert property described in meeting remarks as previously overlooked contiguous territory, and a separate ordinance (2025-24) would annex a business-zoned parcel at 1424 West 56. Each ordinance was offered, seconded and approved on second reading by voice vote.

Richie Barton moved to approve the Nov. 10 meeting minutes earlier in the session; the motion was seconded and the minutes were adopted unanimously. Barton also appears in the record as a mover or seconder on subsequent annexation motions.

The council also approved Resolution 2025-R-8, described at the meeting as a routine “cleanup” of the 2025 budget that gives staff authority to move money between line items when necessary and to encumber contracts not completed in 2025 so those obligations carry forward into 2026. The measure passed by unanimous voice vote.

The council did not complete any third readings at Monday’s meeting; members noted statutory timing requirements tied to public hearings must be met before final adoption of some measures.

What happens next: The annexation ordinances will return for further reading as required by local procedure before final adoption. The budget resolution gives staff authority to reconcile department-level shortfalls and encumber unfinished work into next year’s budget.