diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 840e3061..b4439e10 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ allprojects {
     apply plugin: 'idea'
 
     group = 'org.janelia.jacs-model'
-    version = '2.81'
+    version = '2.82'
 }
 
 subprojects {
diff --git a/jacs-model-access/src/main/java/org/janelia/model/access/domain/dao/mongo/TmNeuronMetadataMongoDao.java b/jacs-model-access/src/main/java/org/janelia/model/access/domain/dao/mongo/TmNeuronMetadataMongoDao.java
index 9239aea6..858ad6a6 100644
--- a/jacs-model-access/src/main/java/org/janelia/model/access/domain/dao/mongo/TmNeuronMetadataMongoDao.java
+++ b/jacs-model-access/src/main/java/org/janelia/model/access/domain/dao/mongo/TmNeuronMetadataMongoDao.java
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ public TmNeuronMetadata createTmNeuronInWorkspace(String subjectKey, TmNeuronMet
                 neuronMetadata.setLargeNeuron(true);
             }
             LOG.info("creating neuron");
-            persistedNeuronMetadata = createNeuronWithExistingId(neuronMetadata, collection, neuronOwnerKey);
+            persistedNeuronMetadata =
+                    saveNeuron(neuronMetadata, workspace.getNeuronCollection(), subjectKey, false);
             if (isLarge) {
                 saveLargeNeuronPointData(persistedNeuronMetadata.getId(), pointData);
             }
@@ -294,25 +295,6 @@ public List<TmOperation> getOperations(Long workspaceId, Long neuronId, Date sta
         return MongoDaoHelper.find(filter, null, 0, 10000, operationCollection, TmOperation.class);
     }
 
-
-    private TmNeuronMetadata createNeuronWithExistingId(TmNeuronMetadata entity,
-                                        String collectionName, String subjectKey) {
-        MongoCollection<TmNeuronMetadata> mongoCollection =  getNeuronCollection(collectionName);
-
-        Date now = new Date();
-        for (TmGeoAnnotation anno : entity.getRootAnnotations()) {
-            anno.setParentId(entity.getId());
-        }
-
-        entity.setOwnerKey(subjectKey);
-        entity.getReaders().add(subjectKey);
-        entity.getWriters().add(subjectKey);
-        entity.setCreationDate(now);
-        entity.setUpdatedDate(now);
-        mongoCollection.insertOne(entity);
-        return entity;
-    }
-
     private TmNeuronMetadata saveNeuron(TmNeuronMetadata entity,
                                        String collectionName, String subjectKey, boolean forceCreate) {
         MongoCollection<TmNeuronMetadata> mongoCollection =  getNeuronCollection(collectionName);