LAUREL - The Laurel City Council voted Thursday against adopting an emergency ordinance that would have paused all annexation applications for at least 90 days.The decision came during a packed special meeting where many attende es told city council members they supported putting the moratorium in place.The moratorium would have delayed a 114-acre piece land from being annexed into the city of Laurel. That land is under contract with the state, as the possible site of a 32-bed forensic mental health facility. If the moratorium had passed, it would have stopped annexations for the next three months and possibly beyond. It would not have impacted any annexation applications already submitted.Supporters of the moratorium said it would have given the public and the council more time before making any major decisions.RELATED Q2 COVERAGELaurel considers measure to halt annexations, potentially blocking state mental hospital Laurel residents demand transparency over proposed state mental health hospitalLaurel residents demand transparency over proposed state mental health hospitalLaurel mayor breaks silence on forensic mental health facility, recall petition ...read more read less