Despite the wishes of Taylortown Mayor Ulysses Barrett, PineSage will not be de-annexed any time soon.

In a letter dated Feb. 1, 2001, state Rep. Richard Morgan informed Barrett that it would “not be in the best interest of either the PineSage community or Taylortown” to introduce a local bill in the N.C. General Assembly to approve the de-annexation.

Morgan, an Eagle Springs Republican, told Barrett in the letter that the town provides vital municipal services, such as water, fire and police protection, for PineSage and that the subdivision generates tax revenues for the town, which is why he will not introduce a bill to approve de-annexation.

“It is my sincere hope that the citizens of the PineSage community and Taylortown will come together to address the issues that led them to seek de-annexation,” Morgan said in his letter.

This ends an attempt initiated in September 1998 by Barrett and the Taylortown government to de-annex the 80-home community from the town. That would require approval of a local bill by the state legislature.

Curtis Holt, president of the PineSage Homeowners’ Association, said the official stand for his organization was “no comment until we get more information.”

Barrett has maintained that the 1990 annexation of the subdivision and the subsequent water hookups by then developer Michael Laws were illegal. At a public hearing last May, Barrett told the audience that these illegalities coupled with Taylortown’s inability to provide water for PineSage were factors in the town’s move to de-annex the subdivision.

The Taylortown government actually passed a resolution in September 1998 calling for the de-annexation of the PineSage community.

However, documents dated Sept. 23, 1991, and May 1, 1991, and registered with the Moore County register of deeds, show that the annexation of PineSage met all of the legal requirements.

According to Barrett, the “proper public hearings” were not held at the time of PineSage’s annexation. But the records obtained by The Pilot stated that a petition to annex Pinesage had been properly certified by the town clerk and that a legally advertised public hearing on the annexation was held at the Town Hall on Aug. 15, 1990.

Mayor Geneva McRae, Taylortown Clerk Carolyn Mitchell, and Town Attorney Douglas Gill signed the official document.

Barrett could not be reached for comment Thursday.

PineSage has a history of water problems, with the subdivision running completely dry in June 1999. Barrett told PineSage residents at the meeting last May that Taylortown would pay approximately $106,000 to construct a new water line to the traditionally water-starved neighborhood, if the residents would agree to de-annexation. After the line was installed, Barrett said the town would turn the line and all the infrastructure in the subdivision over to the Moore County government. The county would then be responsible for the subdivision’s water.