Follow #avlh2o for live updates from Xpress reporters throughout the all-day hearing, held by Rep. Tim Moffitt’s Metropolitan Sewerage/Water System Committee.
The Twitter boxes below contain the most recent feeds, one from Xpress reporters and moderators, the other from the public.
To view older tweets from today’s hearing and earlier water-related meetings, go here.
FROM THE COMMITTEE PRESS RELEASE:
TIME: Thursday, Feb. 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
PLACE:Virginia C. Boone Mountain Heritage Building
WNC Ag Center (Fletcher, NC)
1301 Fanning Bridge Road Fletcher, NC 28732
(828) 687-1414
The [Metropolitan Sewerage/Water System] Committee will be hearing comments about regional water and sewer issues involving increasing efficiencies in the delivery of services, realization of economies of scale through better planning, engineering and administration as well as the important role water and sewer has in Economic Development for our area. We will also accept comments regarding the public water system managed by the City of Asheville along the three publicly stated potential study outcomes:
1) The water system remains managed by the City of Asheville;
2) The creation of an independent regional water authority similar to MSD or
3) Merging the water system with MSD creating a regional authority. Please arrive 30 minutes before your time block to sign up to speak. Each speaker will be limited to 3 minutes.
Agenda schedule/speaking times
8:30-9 a.m. Sign up
9-10 a.m. Elected officials
10-noon City of Asheville residents
noon-1 p.m. break
1-3 p.m. Buncombe County residents
3-4 p.m. Henderson County residents
4-5 p.m. Business community
I’m not above using a little ‘blue’ humor when it’s required, but I have to take exception – I don’t believe I emphasized the “ass” in “assets”. That being said, I don’t mind it if Rep. Moffitt took it that way.
But mainly I wanted him to know we’re aware of the radical signal he’s sending to municipalities and the bond market who fund their infrastructure: if he seizes the water system of Asheville, every bond-financed, ratepayer-funded system in the state is up for grabs by whatever political party wins the next election.
And the good people who recently invested in the stable, highly-rated City of Asheville, to the tune of $40 million, will find those debts held by a hastily-assembled political body whose only discernible rating quality is that its previous incarnation collapsed in dysfunction and infighting seven years ago.