The town of Aberdeen held a public information meeting Tuesday night to provide the public with the facts about the involuntary annexation of the Thrushwood Road area in Forest Hills and the Chapel Green area.

"The purpose of this meeting is to explain how the areas meet the qualification standards and to outline how the six services the town provides will be offered," said Planning Director Kathy Liles.

A few residents attended and asked questions. It was not a public hearing. That will come next month.

John McHenry, of Benchmark CMR Inc., the company that prepared the annexation report for Aberdeen, explained how the areas qualified for involuntary annexation under state law. He also described how police, fire, water, sewer, solid waste and street services would be provided to new residents in the areas to be annexed.

The Fire Department already provides service to both areas, but the annexation will mean that the residents of those areas will no longer have to pay a yearly fire district tax. The Police Department will also serve the two areas.

After petitioning the N.C. Department of Transportation to take over maintenance of the public roads in the annexed areas, Aberdeen will be responsible for street maintenance including drainage, repair, street sweeping and resurfacing every two years.

The town provides garbage collection twice a week as well as curbside pickup of yard waste and bulky items to town residents.

Residents in the affected areas who do not have town water can connect to the system, but that is not required. Those who are on town water will see a reduction in their rates. Out-of-town rates are double in-town rates.

Sewer service is also available. The town will finish the necessary sewer lines in Thrushwood within a year of the effective annexation date to be able to provide sewer service to the area.

Liles reminded members of the audience that the annexation was "not a done deal," and encouraged anyone who wanted to address the Aberdeen Board of Commissioners to attend a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. May 4 in the Town Hall.

The board will consider adopting an annexation ordinance May 18. If approved, it would become effective June 30.

Laura Eddy can be reached by e-mail at laura@thepilot.com.