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ROO : O L I • N \ • \ w uw ► � \ <br /> 1 . EXISTING SYSTEMS' FEARS OVER LOSS OF AUTONOMY <br /> Two points of disagreement have been apparent <br /> throughout Committee discussions, whether the County ' s <br /> unified voice should be an independent authority or a <br /> department of County government and whether or not this <br /> entity should manage all county water sources. Underlying <br /> both these points is the fears expressed by the existing <br /> systems regarding loss of local control . <br /> Both Hillsborough and Orange-Alamance fear having <br /> control of their systems pass from locally elected <br /> officials to appointed officials who may or may not <br /> reside in the service area of the respective system. More <br /> bluntly, they want neither their sources of water nor <br /> their distribution systems swallowed up by OWASA and the <br /> southern portion of the County . On the other hand, <br /> representatives from OWASA are concerned that reliability <br /> of future sources cannot be guaranteed unless the <br /> southern portion of the County has at least some control <br /> over management. <br /> The problem of local control is less a strategic one <br /> than a political one. While the Committee was not charged <br /> with achieving political solutions, pre-set terr'itorial <br /> attitudes and very real political concerns have blocked <br /> strategic resolution. The recommedation of the Committee, <br /> however, provides an incremental step to allow each <br /> system to maintain its autonomy. <br /> 2. DISTRIBUTION OF COSTS AND METHOD OF PAYMENT <br /> Certainly, no one wants or should be required to pay <br /> more than their fair share of costs. As of yet, though, <br /> the Committee has not been able to come up with an <br /> agreeable and equitable solution for distributing costs <br /> associated with a new management system and new sources <br /> of water established under that system. I ' <br /> Discussion has revolved around not only methods of <br /> payment and overall distribution of costs, but also the <br /> timing of payments. Residents in the southern portion of <br /> the County, already paying for Cane Creek Reservoir, are <br /> reluctant to pay now for water that Hillsborough needs <br /> immediately and that the southern part of the County will <br /> not need for twenty years. <br />