Are rural water systems under attack?

Elijah Bell, president of the Moore Creek-Mt. Carmel water system said a bill proposed by State Sen. Doug Broxson to bring all water systems in Santa Rosa County under one umbrella will not only take local control away from communities, but eventually lead to higher utility rates.

"They are trying to fix something that's not broke," Bell said. "All these systems are financially sound and provide adequate and good water to their customers."

Bell said currently, the rural water system board members are not paid and are elected by the customers. They only people on payroll are those employees who...