Local proponents of involuntary annexation reform in North Carolina remain undaunted and say they are ready to fight on through the next legislative cycle to change the state's laws.

A state annexation reform bill has drifted off into limbo in the state Senate, signifying the end of any reform taking place this year.

But Pinewild resident Doug Aitken, leader of the statewide Fair Annexation Coalition, said he is ready to recharge his batteries and continue the push for the changes he and many others across the state think are necessary.

"We are going to take a well-needed short break, and we're going to come back stronger than ever," he said by phone Monday. "We're definitely not going away."

While this year's reform bill fell short of what involuntary annexation foes wanted, it still marked a milestone for their movement. An amendment that allowed for a public referendum on involuntary annexations was included in the legislation, which they consider a key ingredient for real reform.

But many felt the requirement for having a vote -- a petition signed by at least 15 percent of residents in the affected community and surrounding municipality -- was too high.

Aitken said that getting a bill approved by the House and killed by the Senate was actually the best possible outcome considering the circumstances.

He has maintained that signing a bad bill into law would delay annexation reform for several years, but the fact that something made it through the House gives reform proponents the ability to point out what needs to be changed to make it effective.

"We hope that we can sit down and logically using facts and figures, convince enough senators that the law needs to be changed, and the bill the House has sent forward is not the way to change the law," he said.

Aitken hopes to bring smaller organizations that are focused on individual involuntary ann-exations into the greater statewide effort.

He said he is also interested in exploring the formation of a political action committee (PAC) to support the effort.

Aitken and his group want to examine how the North Carolina League of Municipalities -- which has opposed giving citizens affected by involuntary annexation a vote -- operates.

There are allies on both sides of the political aisle, Aitken said, but the key is to influence the other legislators who aren't on board. It's not an easy task, but he said that if concerned citizens aren't active in the process, nothing will happen.

"We're just going to keep plugging along and keep doing our thing and hope that somewhere along the line some important people listen," he said.

Contact John Krahnert III at 693-2473 or by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot.com.