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Moffitt bill aims to 'rekindle' negotiations in water war

By Lightning Reports, Published: May 8, 2024

State Sen. Tim Moffitt filed a bill on Tuesday that would forbid the city of Hendersonville from charging higher rates for water customers outside its city limits and would impose other restrictions on the city's water and sewer policies.
Calling the measure a "reform" of the city's public enterprise, Moffitt acknowledged in a news release that the proposal is intended to force a renewal of stalled talks between the city and Henderson County.
“For decades, the city and county have been at a loggerheads regarding the city's urban sprawl and its impacts on county residents and volunteer fire departments,” he said. “Recent conversations regarding a joint city/county water and sewer authority have essentially fallen apart. This legislation will rekindle that process.”
 

Moffitt's bill also restricts the process whereby property is annexed into the city. Currently, the city requires property to be annexed in exchange for sewer service. The bill adds a requirement that property owners certify there was no undue coercion exercised by the city by way of withholding services without the petition for annexation.

The legislation also restricts how water-sewer revenue may be spent. Ratepayer revenues cannot be commingled to pay for any of the city’s other financial obligations.