The N.C. Senate has passed to the House chamber Senator Dan Soucek’s bill to end Extraterritorial Jurisdiction for the town of Boone.  Senate bill 949 passed on a voice vote in the senate around noon today.  It passed its second reading yesterday by a 32 to 17 margin. The bill, filed May 30th, was in response to what Soucek called irresponsible use of the town’s power, saying Boone regulated areas the town was not moving to annex.  The Boone Town Council responded with a motion to cut off all new utility requests outside the town limits if the bill passes.  
Meanwhile, no action is listed today for Representative Jonathan Jordan’s house bill 1227, after it moved Tuesday to the committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House. It would circumvent work the Town of Boone has done for years getting permission to withdraw water from and return treated water to the New River.  Town officials say that project is funded and ready to start.