Майор Милтона прокомментировал слухи о присоединении участка дороги в Куллоден

MILTON — Milton is still in the early stages of its proposed annexation of a road in Culloden, according to city officials. A letter from the city to the West Virginia Department of Transportation regarding the annexation request recently spread online, leaving residents and local officials with questions, which Milton Mayor Shane Evans addressed Tuesday. Evans said the city hasn’t made any progress on the proposed annexation. Officials agreed to move forward with the proposal several months ago, but the process hasn’t yet gone beyond formalities. Milton requested permission from the West Virginia Department of Transportation to proceed with the annexation of a portion of U.S. 60 within Cabell County. Evans said the letter going around online is not new, and that the municipality sent the letter to the DOT because it thought it was required for the process. According to that letter, which was shared among Culloden community groups, the proposed annexation area starts at the intersection of Morris Memorial Road and U.S. 60 and extends eastward for approximately three miles to the point where Virginia Avenue diverges from U.S. 60. The city also seeks to include approximately 0.25 miles along Virginia Avenue and another 0.25 miles on Benedict Road, extending to the location of the new Interstate 64 interchange currently under construction. Evans said if the proposed annexation is approved, Milton does not intend to take over the Culloden Volunteer Fire Department territory, which he heard is a concern. There is no timeline for the proposed annexation, he added. He said the city will talk to its attorney to figure out the next steps. Last Thursday, The Cabell County Commission read a statement during its regular meeting on the proposed annexation. The commission said the letter was to address its role in the annexation and said it follows many phone calls, visits and emails from members of the Culloden community who are concerned by the proposal. As of the meeting, according to the letter, “the Cabell County Commission has not received any petition, application, or motion for annexation from the City of Milton. Further, the Cabell County Commission has no information regarding any potentially planned future annexation by the City of Milton.”