WIZS received the following statement late Friday afternoon from Michelle Kenny, research assistant in the office of Rep. Matthew Winslow, Dist. 7.

It appears below, in its entirety:

Franklin County has been working to secure a long-term water supply for its residents and businesses for more than twenty years. This legislation is one step in a long process, and it is not our first step.

For years, Franklin County pursued every available regional option. We have purchased water from multiple sources, including the City of Henderson through the Kerr Lake Regional Water System, the Town of Louisburg, and the City of Raleigh. Franklin County requested expanded capacity through existing regional arrangements repeatedly and has been unable to secure a long-term solution. Expanding the existing regional infrastructure to meet Franklin County’s projected demand would require a construction investment of more than $78 million, and even that investment would not provide sufficient capacity to meet Franklin County’s long-term needs. Obtaining water from multiple sources at the scale Franklin County requires is simply not cost-effective or sustainable.

The Army Corps of Engineers reallocation process at Kerr Lake is the right path forward. It is a formal, federally managed process which requires strict public notice and meaningful opportunities for input from all affected jurisdictions. The Army Corps of Engineers requires transparency. Franklin County did not bypass any process; we initiated the process that exists specifically to evaluate requests like this one.

On the legislation specifically, this bill gives Franklin County a legal tool it may need to position water infrastructure as the Army Corps process moves forward. The condemnation authority exists as a last resort if good-faith negotiation fails, but negotiation in good faith is absolutely Franklin County’s plan and our preference.

Franklin County’s growth benefits the entire region. The employers, families, and businesses choosing Franklin County create jobs and economic activity that extend well beyond our borders. Securing reliable, affordable water supply is how Franklin County continues to support that growth, for our residents and for the region. Franklin County growth is likely the best opportunity for economic growth for Granville, Vance and Warren Counties.

Franklin County respects its relationships with neighboring counties. Legislative advocacy is a normal part of local government, and the County pursued this through a process that would provide the best opportunity for success. Franklin County recognizes that affected jurisdictions were not notified in advance of this provision but are committed to ongoing dialogue as this process moves forward. The Legislative process and the Army Corps process provide meaningful opportunities for all affected jurisdictions to be heard, and Franklin County welcomes that engagement.