News report
from John Boyle, Asheville Citizen-Times
The Metropolitan Sewerage District board might not like the idea of a forced merger with the city of Asheville water system, but members nonetheless approved a proposal this afternoon that would offer the city $57 million in compensation and create one entity for water and sewer.
Board members Chris Pelly and Bill Russell were the only members to vote against the motion.
“My main thing is it’s just robbery,” Russell said, adding that’s it’s not “a win-win” situation by any stretch. “It’s just wrong. It makes me sick.”
The MSD’s planning committee previously approved the proposal, which also includes components for the MSD to pay off the city system’s $71 million in debt, adopt its $107 million capital improvement program and retain all employees. The city also would retain title to its reservoirs and watershed lands, with MSD leasing them. …
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