Editorial from the Greensboro News-Record
Asheville is fighting to keep its municipal water system and avoid a soaking. But the state legislature has the last word.
Other cities should tune in to this drama playing out in the water-wealthy mountain community.
While Asheville operates its own water system, wastewater service is handled by a Metropolitan Sewerage District that covers all of Buncombe County. A legislative study committee reported last year that combining systems could achieve efficiencies, and a bill passed this summer would authorize a sewerage district to exercise “any power” of a city water system. The measure, pushed by Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Buncombe, and Rep. Chuck McGrady, R-Henderson, was seen as a prelude to a merger. But some critics suspect the ultimate goal is to privatize water services in Asheville. Moffitt and McGrady deny it, but much of this story seems to lie beneath the surface.Read the full article
Asheville is fighting to keep its municipal water system and avoid a soaking. But the state legislature has the last word.
Other cities should tune in to this drama playing out in the water-wealthy mountain community.
While Asheville operates its own water system, wastewater service is handled by a Metropolitan Sewerage District that covers all of Buncombe County. A legislative study committee reported last year that combining systems could achieve efficiencies, and a bill passed this summer would authorize a sewerage district to exercise “any power” of a city water system. The measure, pushed by Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Buncombe, and Rep. Chuck McGrady, R-Henderson, was seen as a prelude to a merger. But some critics suspect the ultimate goal is to privatize water services in Asheville. Moffitt and McGrady deny it, but much of this story seems to lie beneath the surface.Read the full article
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"Much of this story seems to lie beneath the surface."
That's an understatement.
http://ashevillewater.blogspot.com/p/summary.html
By bsummers
12/29/2012