MARTINSVILLE, Va. – After discussing it for better than 50 years, officials in Martinsville made it official Wednesday: the City of Martinsville will revert to a town within Henry County following majority approval of a memorandum of understanding by both localities.

Approval came during a joint meeting between the Henry County Board of Supervisors and Martinsville City Council on Wednesday. While opposition remains, this begins the merger process.

The plan has the support of all members on city council and a majority of Henry County supervisors. The reversion must still be approved by a panel of judges, and can begin no sooner than six months thereafter.

Once finalized, the school systems in the city and county will merge and the city’s constitutional officers will no longer exist.