Dist. 2 county council candidates face off on Lake Wylie issues

Incorporation, moratorium, overlay, a Lake Wylie high school, whether Lake Wylie is a tourist destination – Allison Love and Doug Meyer-Cuno tackled all topics local Friday in hopes of winning the area’s lone York County Council seat. Both Republicans will be on the June 14 primary.

Both Republicans agree on several issues. Both Dist. 2 candidates want more done to preserve land in Lake Wylie and want more recreational opportunities. Both business owners say they have the accounting and negotiating skills to serve the area.

The topic drawing the most heated rhetoric as the two debated at a Clover-Lake Wylie Republicam Women luncheon at River Hills Country Club was incorporation.

“I am not an advocate of incorporation,” Love said.

Meyer-Cuno wants more information before taking a position.

Love said talk of incorporation that includes a group studying it comes from frustration on land use issues and overall community growth – frustration Love shares. However, she says the area is “beyond incorporation” and working through the county is the way to go.

“I can get what we want without having to pay outrageous taxes,” she said.

Meyer-Cuno said revenue projections could show incorporation to be a good or bad idea, but there is no way to know without investigating. He also is adamant he’s held that position all along, despite Love stating Meyer-Cuno initially supported it.

“I have clearly stated that we should vet the process, through the system, all the way,” he said.

Love said she doesn’t “believe he’s ever backed off on wanting to incorporate,” while Meyer-Cuno said that is “completely wrong” and it “takes a disciplined, thoughtful person to take the bloodbath I have taken on this issue.”

Another issue discussed Friday involved the Bethel Volunteer Fire Department. There is friction between the department and the special fire tax board set up to oversee local fire money, including a main issue hiring a paid chief position to start in January. Volunteers oppose the board’s plan.

Love said there are good points on both sides, and both candidates say a time will come when additional paid staff is needed. Love isn’t ready to back either the volunteer or tax board position on the need for a paid chief now.

“If we get in the middle of it, it’s going to be more of a battle,” she said.

Meyer-Cuno said Bethel is “an extremely efficient fire department” that improved its safety score and grew service in recent years with a volunteer chief, so he sees no need for a paid chief now.

“Today, that’s probably not a good allocation of funds,” Meyer-Cuno said.

He sees an opportunity to be fiscally conservative, especially when it isn’t denying volunteer requests.

“I’m a Republican and I don’t want to spend that kind of money,” Meyer-Cuno said. “And they’re not asking for it.”

Meyer-Cuno said several times he would better advocate for the area than current Councilman Bruce Henderson, who supports Love as his replacement. A specific example, Meyer-Cuno said, is the upcoming decision on whether the county should take over Carolina Water Service.

“He hasn’t made the motion,” Meyer-Cuno said, noting Henderson’s response at a meeting about incorporation both Meyer-Cuno and Love attended. “He pontificated at (Camp Thunderbird) and said, yeah, I’m all for getting rid of it. Where’s our motion?”

Love said she, too, supports getting out of the contract with Carolina Water that expires at the end of the year.

“That’s going to be done before Doug and I would even take office,” Love said. “All I can say is I hope York County can come to an agreement.”

Both candidates say business ownership and longstanding ties to the area make them good fits for Council. Both say they have good relationships with the current Council. And both agree much work remains for whatever representative Lake Wylie has on the seven-member group.

“It’s going to take a strong councilperson to get what we need,” Love said.

This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 5:12 PM with the headline "Dist. 2 county council candidates face off on Lake Wylie issues."