LAWMAKERS LAUDED FOR WATER FIGHT

N.C. Sen. Warren Daniel and Rep. Hugh Blackwell were on hand at Monday’s Drexel Board of Aldermen meeting to receive a special resolution thanking them for “considering the interests of Western Piedmont communities, including future growth, economic development, water treatment, and water supply in the Catawba River Basin.”

The two legislators helped spearhead the effort to temporarily halt the City of Charlotte from doubling its water intake from the Catawba River Basin. Blackwell said Charlotte was “attempting to grow at our expense,” and Daniel said authorities are studying the economic and environmental impact of such a move during the pause. The senator and representative thanked the board for their recognition.

S.L. 2025-74 temporarily blocks North Carolina from approving new or expanded interbasin surface-water transfers exceeding 15 million gallons per day while the state reviews its decades-old transfer laws. The law directs the UNC-Chapel Hill Collaboratory to study the approval process, including the effects of population growth, drought, flooding, and future water demands, and recommend changes to the General Assembly. The moratorium expires March 1, 2027.

The Drexel Board of Aldermen isn’t the only elected board to pass resolutions thanking members of the N.C. General Assembly for successfully imposing a temporary moratorium on Charlotte’s plans to draw an additional 30 million gallons of water per day from the Catawba River.

Burke County Board of Commissioners: Planned for its Nov. 16 meeting

• Drexel Board of Aldermen: Monday, Nov. 2
• Morganton City Council: Monday, Nov. 2
• Rutherford College Town Council: Monday, Nov. 2
• Valdese Town Council: Monday, Nov. 2

In addition to the resolution regarding the work of the General Assembly, many also approved resolutions declaring Tuesday, Dec. 1, “1BurkeGives Day,” encouraging support of local nonprofits. The event is organized by Burke County United Way and details can be found at 1burkegives.org.