From the archives: In 2000, a Brunswick 'hostile takeover' was stalled
Brunswick County has 19 municipalities, which would've dropped by one in 2000 if a proposed merger was finalized.
In the May 12, 2000, edition, the Wilmington Morning Star reported a potential town merger between Leland and Navassa was off again. Included in the merger talks was the North Brunswick Sanitary District, a utilities provider that brings water and sewer in that portion of the county.
The story noted "irreconcilable political differences" for the failed merger after representatives from Navassa and the sanitary district did not attend a consolidation meeting.
Amid talk of the sanitary district's future, the district commissioner countered that concerns were "an attempt to discredit the sanitary district" and that Leland's proposed merger looked more like a "hostile takeover."
As for nearby Belville, the story mentioned conflicting stances on consolidation. A commissioner for the town said it was due to "living with the past history. There is that background that the old guard finds offensive. It doesn't bother new people as much," Jean Rhodes said.
Of course, it's mostly a moot point today. A 2023 bill to hold off annexation in Leland would mean any renewal of these talks would end with the same result.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: In 2000, Leland wanted to merge with Navassa, NC. Here's what happened
