The CDC and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Egleston hospital, along with Atlanta-based Emory University, filed separate petitions Tuesday to be annexed into Atlanta from DeKalb County, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Under the petition, the three organizations' facilities would remain in DeKalb County, but would be considered part of the city of Atlanta.
"CDC filed the petition after careful consideration," officials said. "Annexation by the City of Atlanta allows CDC to continue working with DeKalb County's critical response capability while linking to Atlanta's infrastructure and municipal services."
CHOA officials said in a statement to the Chronicle the annexation petition applied only to the Egleston hospital facility, not the health system as a whole. Officials said the health system is "following Emory's lead in this matter," since the hospital is located on the university's campus, according to the report.
The university reportedly declared its intent to file for annexation into Atlanta in August 2016.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, JD, issued a statement welcoming the three organizations to join the city of Atlanta, stating the annexation "presents the rare opportunity to bring a world-class teaching and research institution, and two of the leading national public health institutions … into the city," according to the report.
Michael Thurmond, JD, CEO of DeKalb County, told the Chronicle the county is studying the organizations' annexation proposals and will share its results "at the appropriate time."