THIS WILL LIKEL GO NOW TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
AND LIKE THE FAILED ATTEMPT TO TAKE CONTROL OF ASHEVILLE 'S WATER SYSTEM, IT MAY EVENTUALLY BE UP TO THE COURTS TO RESOLVE.
Shortly after 12 noon Wednesday in a long county commissioner’s meeting, Commission Bill Lapsley made his case for taking control of Hendersonville’s water system away from the city and placing it under the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
Lapsley’s main argument is that well over 70 per cent of the City of Hendersonville’s water customers live outside the city and consequently, he says, they have no voice in the operation of the water system.
Lapsley confirmed that he had given city officials the option of voluntarily turning control of the city system over to a regional water authority. The city, which has owned and operated its water system for well over half a century declined and rejected that.
And Lapsley’s proposal, referred to Wednesday as “Option 2”, called for commissioners to approve a resolution asking State Representative Chuck McGrady to introduce legislation in the General Assembly turning control of the city water system over to the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
McGrady has reportedly expressed a willingness to introduce the legislation.
Commissioner Charlie Messer left the meeting. And saying the issue is one of monopoly and accountability, Commissioner Grady Hawkins made the motion to approve “:Option 2” and support the resolution which, in essence, and if approved by the legislature and signed into law by the governor, and if its sustained by the courts in the event the city sues to keep control of its system, would strip the City of Hendersonville of control of its water system.
By Larry Freeman
