Dear Editor,
Your City Could Be Next…
North Carolina’s General Assembly is about to take the unprecedented step of seizing Asheville North Carolina’s municipal-run water system, which Asheville has owned and operated for over 100 years. The legislation would also force Asheville to turn over control of its pristine 20,000 acre watershed, to the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County (MSD). The system has high marks from the State for water quality and management. There are no outstanding disputes with neighboring jurisdictions.
Despite unanimous opposition of Asheville City Council, and a referendum in which 86% of the citizens voted against it, the legislators involved intend to proceed with a forced transfer of the water to an unelected Board, whose composition and authority is controlled by the NCGA. The precedents being set in the NCGA could be used to seize the assets of any municipality in the State. Your city could be next. (See www.SaveOurWaterWNC.com)
The Town Councils of Banner Elk, Seven Devils and Blowing Rock should be commended for passing resolutions opposing the forced transfer of a municipal water system. Please contact your state Representative, Jonathan Jordan (jonathan.jordan@ncleg.net), your state Senator, Dan Soucek (dan.soucek@ncleg.net) and Governor McCrory (www.patmccrory.com/contact/) to voice your opposition to the legislation.
Beth Jezek
Asheville, NC