With no fanfare, the Henderson City Commission approved the annexation of property that will soon be owned by Mayor Brad Staton into the city.
Staton recused himself from the Tuesday reading of the ordinance and vote. Then, the commission approved the measure 4-0.
There were no comments at Tuesday’s meeting. In a previous meeting, commissioners Nick Whitt and Rodney Thomas said annexing a property bordering city limits is a right that any citizen has.
To legally serve as mayor, Staton must live within city limits.
After finding what he described as a dream home in the Grantwood subdivision, he learned the residence wasn’t touching the city boundary. A wooded property contiguous to it, however, did touch the city’s boundary. In December, Staton talked to both property owners and came to purchase agreements if they agreed to ask to be annexed into the city.
Both property owners soon sent requests for their property to be annexed into the city. Later in December, the city commission agreed to send the request to the Henderson-Henderson County Joint Planning Commission to make a recommendation on the proper zoning of the properties if the annexation were to be approved.
At the Jan. 7 planning commission meeting, three Grantwood residents spoke in the public meeting, saying for the record that they do not want their properties annexed into the city.
City officials say there has been no discussion about any annexation of other properties in the neighborhood.
Staton will receive no city services at the residence but still must pay both county and city property taxes.