BELVILLE — To be or not to be, that is still the question about H2Go on everyone’s mind.
Friday, the town of Leland successfully convinced a judge to issue a temporary restraining order preventing the transfer of assets to Belville. Among the reasoning was that the sale of H2GO voted on Tuesday night violated state laws and that the decision was made in violation of the state’s Open Meeting Law.
The vote came as an attempt to preserve the planned reverse osmosis plant that was support by three of the two current H2GO members, but not with Bill Beer, who was elected to the board in November but awaiting being sworn in. Belville has previously supported the reverse osmosis plant, which became the main issue of the 2017 election, pitting pro and anti reverse osmosis candidates against each other.
In a last-ditch effort to save a $35 million reverse osmosis plant, H2GO Commissioner Carl Antos made a motion to transfer all of the company’s assets to the Town of Belville, effectively dissolving the company as well as the H2GO Board of Commissioners. Antos was a pro reverse osmosis plant candidate who was not re-elected on Nov. 7.
Related: Woody White calls for H2Go commissioners to resign, labels vote ‘shameful’
Friday night, public relations consultant Michael McGill, whose prior contract with H2Go was picked up by Belville this week, released a statement on behalf of the town. In that statement, McGill said the town was not made aware of the court proceedings or it would have argued its case before the judge.
“Belville and H2GO contend that the actions taken were in full compliance with all applicable North Carolina General Statutes, including the Open Meetings Law,” McGill wrote.
