By Megan V. Williams
Wilmington, NC – Members of the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, the body which may eventually take over water and sewer responsibilities for Wilmington and New Hanover County, will meet in closed session Wednesday to discuss its selection for General Manager.
But even as the consolidation moves forward, some elected officials still have questions.
Members of the Wilmington City Council and New Hanover County Board of Commissioners will get an update Wednesday on the progress toward consolidation.
City Council member Jim Quinn represents the city on the Authority's board, along with council member Jason Thompson. Quinn says he called the joint meeting after realizing others on the Council still have a lot of questions.
"So I'm hoping that by meeting members of the authority, being able to ask questions, they'll understand the seriousness of it and give the whole effort a chance to continue on."
The city and county are still hammering out the rules which will govern the new Authority, everything from which assets the governments will hand over, to how the Authority can expand in the future.
County Commissioner, and Authority Board member, Bill Castor says the Authority recently hired a lawyer to help negotiate the rules that will govern it.
Castor says the situation is different at the county, where his fellow commissioners are already well informed about the consolidation process.
"The County Commissioners, since day one and even before, 10 years ago, have been for the consolidation of the water and sewer."
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