Southport Board of Aldermen opposes Interbasin Transfer Certificate from the Town of Fuquay-Varina
SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY)– During the Southport Board of Aldermen’s meeting on Thursday, the very first thing they talked about was an Interbasin Transfer Certification request by Fuquay-Varina.
“The city of Southport Board of Aldermen, and this resolution, formally opposes the town of Fuquay-Varina interbasin transfer,” said Mayor Joe Pat Hatem.
Fuquay-Varina wants to withdraw 6.17 million gallons from the Cape Fear River Basin and divert it to the Neuse River Basin. As other municipalities have voiced opposition to this, on Thursday, Southport aldermen also voiced their concerns to the plan. Southport Mayor Joe Pat Hatem says he strongly opposes the idea.
“Anything that has to do with impacting the environment, which this would do, Southport would routinely oppose,” said Hatem. “We are trying to protect our environment, and this resolution is one of the ways we are trying to do it.”
One other thing the Southport aldermen is trying to do, is see if they can lower the time of city meetings by setting a time limit on public comments, which alderman Lowe Davis disagrees with, believing that speakers should have all the time they need.
“When we campaign, we tell them we want to hear from you and that we are going to represent you,” said Davis. “We can’t do that if they don’t have the opportunity to tell us.”
The board opposed her statement by voting for a limited amount of time for speakers.
“Public comments will be limited to 3 minutes, and that letters and emails that are sent in, will also be read, as long it stops within the 3-minute mark,” said Hatem.
With February being black history month, Hatem read a proclamation designating and recognizing black history month in the city of Southport.
“Therefore, it being proclaimed that the city of Southport hereby designates the month of February 2026, as Black History Month, and encourages all citizens to recognize and celebrate to honor the lasting contributions of African Americans, to our community and our nation,” said Hatem.
