Heavy rains poured down Thursday evening, dampening the attendance of a McCormick Woods community meeting to discuss annexing into Port Orchard.

The meeting kicked off the first necessary action for the community to enter into a formal conversation with the city — residents representing 10 percent of the property must sign a petition.

Even with reduced attendance, a majority of those present signed the petition, and as of Monday, McCormick Woods resident Dwayne Duncan said the community was approaching the needed number with the petition sitting at a central office.

“Most of the people there did sign,” said Davis, who manned a table collecting signatures Thursday evening. “I don’t think we’re there yet, but we’re getting closer.”

At the meeting, Dick Davis, a member of a committee of McCormick Woods residents, outlined the process, which only involves residents at two steps, with an initial 10 percent petition and a final petition representing 75 percent of the area’s property value.

The residents also had a chance to review the boundaries of the proposed annexation area, which does not include what is called “McCormick West,” an area set for development in the future, but currently not containing any houses.

That area is owned by a single entity looking to develop, and was left out to prevent a skewing of the final petition, and because the annexation process is very simple for a developing piece of property.

Those presents were regularly assured that the process would only continue so long as the annexation looks beneficial to residents.

“Let’s ride this thing as far as it goes, and at some point we’ll either go forward or we’ll pull the plug,” Davis said.

Davis said he hopes whatever the residents decide, its a clear message. The first petition requires signatures representing 10 percent of the property value, but “our goal will be to send a stronger message than that,” Davis said.

Davis noted that by joining the city residents will not have to pay a surcharge on their utilities, but will also join the civic proceedings and could have a major influence on politics, raising the population by 1,000.

“If our people decide to get involved in that kind of thing, we can make a difference,” Davis said.

With Port Orchard Mayor Lary Coppola unable to attend, the residents asked that former Mayor Kim Abel be there if needed. She was happy to see the process moving forward and hopes the annexation will happen.

“I would love for this to happen for the city and the residents,” Kim Abel said.