Potential Purchase of Etowah Sewer Co.
In this July 12th article, "Sale of sewer company would likely block high-density development in Etowah", the Hendersonville Lightning reported about “the potential purchase of the Etowah Sewer Co. (ESC) by Henderson County.”
The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to take-up this topic on Wednesday, July 17th at 9:30 AM, click this link for the meeting agenda. John Mitchell, Henderson County Manager, is quoted as saying: “There are no encumbrances to transfer with the property” including ”any allocations of sewer to developments.”
This means any previous agreement between the ESC and Tribute Companies, a Wilmington NC-based company, to connect a proposed new wastewater treatment plant to Etowah Sewer would no longer exist once this transfer to the County happens.
Etowah Valley Preservation Society (EVPS) Supports the Sale of the ESC to Henderson County
We support the sale of the ESC to Henderson County, making it a public utility controlled by officials we elect. The alternative we faced this past winter was a utility owned by a large firm based in another state and controlled by the utilities commission in Raleigh. This experience showed us how little control or influence we have with private ownership of a utility.
EVPS is learning to work with Henderson County Government cooperatively. We believe in going beyond providing 3-minute comments at committee and board meetings often after plans and decisions have been made. To have an impact, citizens must understand County processes, laws, and regulations. The implementation of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan is a golden opportunity for citizens to become involved in county decisions. The County will soon be totally rewriting the Land Development Code and we need to participate in the process from the start, which is now.
Etowah Park Improvements
Plans for the upgrades to Etowah Park continue on a schedule laid out at a meeting between Henderson County Parks and Recreation and the Friends of Etowah Park (FOEP) at a spring meeting. We have been told that the exercise equipment and playground equipment have been ordered.
A new swing has been added to the park directly behind the Etowah Lions Den and next to the new bocce ball court. Funds for this swing were provided by the Dan and Nancy Barber Charitable Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation of Henderson County.
A work party is needed to help trim the entrance rock garden at the park. The Parks and Recreation Department sprayed the weeds with a herbicide recently. Now we need a few friends to help trim, rake, and pickup the clippings. If you are willing to help in this effort, send a note to FOEP at: foepetowah@gmail.com. FOEP will respond with proposed date and time. At most, only a couple of hours is needed.
Key County Upcoming Meetings
Board of Commissioners: Wednesday, July 17th, 9:30 at the old Court House in Hendersonville (agenda shown above)
Henderson County Planning Board: Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 5:30 PM, King Street Meeting Room, 100 N. King Street; Hendersonville, NC. The agenda can be found at this link. [We urge citizens of Etowah to attend this meeting because a key topic will be the Draft Implementation Plan (2045 Comprehensive Plan). This will affect the future of Etowah]
Rezoning of South & West Mills River
Support the Lions Club Farmers Market
The annual Health Fair at the Etowah Farmers Market takes place this Wednesday, July 17 from 3-6 p.m. in front of the Lions Clubhouse, 447 Etowah School Road.
The Henderson County Department of Public Health will offer blood pressure and blood glucose checks; vaccine appointments; free Narcan; free COVID tests; free hand sanitizer and information about general community health and mental health resources available to county residents.
The Council on Aging for Henderson County will be onsite to discuss their programs, including Meals on Wheels; congregate dining; liquid nutrition for seniors at nutritional risk; caretaker respite; and counseling for seniors and their families on resources to navigate the aging process.
The Buncombe/Henderson Seniors Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) will also be at the market. SHIIP is for people who are new to Medicare; who are helping someone with their Medicare choices; or anyone with questions about Medicare. They offer unbiased counseling options in-person, or over the phone, for folks who need help with their Medicare health insurance plans
Finally the Etowah Lions Club will have our SPOT camera and for free vision testing.
Commentaires