Tonight at the Buncombe County Commissioners’ meeting, Chair Nathan Ramsey questioned language in the revised stormwater ordinance. Legal counsel said all language came from the state model, but Ramsey and Vice Chairman David Young did not like that the county could go after households “jointly and severally” for a damaged stormwater retention system. Fines could now be $500,000. Legal counsel had no problem with holding one homeowner in a development responsible, as it was their opinion that the county should not be liable for noncompliance with a state/federal mandate. Caveat emptor, in their opinion, would suffice. Counsel noted that the wording change was prompted because the original document had said, “jointly and severably,” and “severably” was not a word.
by Leslee Kulba
Wild West blogger