News

Water war settlement derailed in Raleigh

Senate Bill 69, originally filed to codify a broad agreement between the city of Hendersonville and Henderson County on annexation, sewer extension and zoning, was replaced with an unrelated bill on elections and other matters in Haywood County, Jackson County and the city of Jacksonville.

By Bill Moss, Published: July 9, 2025

Convened in separate special called meetings on June 16, the Henderson County Board of Commissioners and the Hendersonville City Council each voted unanimously to adopt an interlocal agreement and proposed legislation to settle their differences over city utility extensions. At last, it appeared, the end was in sight for the decades-long water war —  and in a way that could not be undone by future city councils and county commissions.