Public weighs in on control of Fayetteville utility
FAYETTEVILLE, NC (WTVD) -- The public got its first chance Tuesday night to weigh in on a controversial plan to strip the Fayetteville City Council of most of its control over the city-owned Public Works Commission - which provides utility services to residents - including power, water, and sewer.
Control over millions of dollars is at stake, and it's essentially a battle over the purse strings between the city council and PWC leaders - which have been at odds in recent years. The public utility company went to state lawmakers to get more control.
House Bill 392 is opposed by most members of the Fayetteville City Council. The Public Works Commission charter is more than a century old. Council members say changing it would mean the PWC commission would have no accountability to the city or its citizens.
"They need the oversight of the city council," offered resident Beverly Hall.
The bill, which has already passed in the House of Representatives, would allow the city council to appoint PWC board members, but it would have little other authority.
Some residents who spoke at Tuesday night's meeting said that's fine.
"The purpose behind public power is for it to provide reliable service at the lowest reasonable rates for its rate payers. Fayetteville's Public Works Commission has excelled at that," said PWC Commissioner Wade Fowler.
The bill is now in the Senate.
