Just as in 2012, the City of Corbin is saying, “no” to a proposal that the City of London annex south on Interstate 75 to take in property off of exit 29.
City Manager Marlon Sams said Corbin Mayor McBurney and London Mayor Troy Rudder did discuss the possibility Wednesday after the idea was broached Monday night by developers who want to build a 300,000 square foot commercial development on 50 acres off the exit and offer a second 50-acre tract of land to Keeneland Race Course for a proposed quarter horse track. However, there was no formal offer and the talks quickly ended.
“The bottom line is we are not going to let any other city come in on our infrastructure,” Sams said, noting the Corbin City Commission must approve the annexation because it would cross water and sewage lines the city installed.
With the current state law precluding a municipality from annexing property in three counties, Corbin cannot legally annex the property in question, even though it lies on one of the most heavily travelled roads in the state.
Because of that, alcohol, either by-the-drink, or package sales, is prohibited in that area.
Sams said Corbin officials are planning to contact legislators in the area to push and effort to change the law.
Officials at Walmart in Corbin, which is also in southern Laurel County approached the city commission about annexation several years ago. McBurney told them about the state law and explained that Corbin would be glad to revisit the annexation if they could persuade the legislature to change the law.
In 2012, the idea of London annexing the property was broached but the issue of crossing Corbin’s infrastructure was raised.
McBurney said then that city officials would be willing to discuss the issue, but nothing ever came of it.
The state legislature is currently in session. While bills dealing with the issue have been filed in past legislative sessions, no such bill has yet been filed this year.
The legislature is in its “short session,” meaning it will meet for 30 working days.
