Tag: BIRMINGHAM WATER WORKS

The Birmingham Water Works Board didn’t have the authority to transfer assets to the City of Birmingham after a law changing its governance was signed by Gov. Kay Ivey, according to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall.

Hours after Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation into law changing how the Birmingham Water Works Board is governed, the body voted to sell all of its assets to the City of Birmingham, despite the bill going into effect immediately.

The Birmingham Water Works Board called another special-called meeting related to legislation that would change its governance if signed into law.

The City of Birmingham filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday against Gov. Kay Ivey over a bill awaiting her signature that would restructure the governance of the Birmingham Water Works Board.

After hours of Democratic lawmakers' pushback, the Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation on Thursday overhauling the governance of the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB), sending it to the governor’s desk to become law.

The House Commerce and Small Business Committee approved legislation on Tuesday changing the governance of Birmingham Water Works, despite pushback from some Democratic Jefferson County lawmakers.

There’s no evidence Birmingham Water Works Board chair Tereshia Huffman violated the Alabama Ethics Act, according to Alabama Ethics Commission Assistant General Counsel Brian Paterson.

Amended legislation changing how Birmingham Water Works is governed passed the Senate unanimously on Thursday.

Birmingham Water Works Board chair Tereshia Huffman allegedly “participated in unethical practices” with contributions from the board’s Community Educational Program to charities affiliated with her relatives, according to an ethics complaint filed on Monday.

Republican members of the Senate County and Municipal Government committee passed a bill changing the makeup of the Birmingham Water Works Board on Tuesday morning.

Changing how Birmingham Water Works is governed is necessary to avoid becoming “another Jackson,” according to State Sen. Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook).

State Sen. Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) filed legislation on Thursday that changes the makeup of the Birmingham Water Works Board.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced the appointment of Dr. Andre McShan and Dr. Monique Gardner Witherspoon to the Birmingham Water Works Board this week. 

A major water main ruptured in Forestdale, Alabama Friday and is off. Northern Jefferson County is impacted. The biggest concern is water pressure for fire hydrants.

A Birmingham Water Works Board member filed a lawsuit against the large utility after his request for legal expense invoices from as far back as October 2015 was denied.

Employees of the Birmingham Water Works delivered a “no-confidence” vote in the large utility’s senior management this week, indicating concern about their treatment by higher-ups in the organization. 

The Birmingham Water Works Board passed its fiscal year 2024 budget on Tuesday after adjusting proposed budgets to reduce next year’s rate hike from 5.8% to 4.8%.

Jefferson County residents may have higher utility bills in 2024 as the county increases sewer rates, and those within the jurisdiction of Birmingham Water Works face a potential rate hike for the third year in a row.

If Alabama lawmakers had passed HB177 this legislative session, the current members of the Birmingham Water Works Board could have been fired and replaced. The bill would’ve also altered the qualification and appointment structure of the board.

The Birmingham Water Works announced a new billing initiative on Tuesday, which it claims will address the utility’s billing issues that customers experienced last year.

The Birmingham City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday to express its disapproval of a bill in the Alabama House of Representatives that would overhaul the Birmingham Water Works Board and reorganize the appointment structure of its members.

The Jefferson County Commission approved a new billing agreement with the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB) on Tuesday after what reports say were months of negotiations.

Just as some state legislators push to overhaul the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB), the utility decided on Wednesday to adopt a new self-governance policy and director pledge.

After a year of crisis at the Birmingham Water Works, two state legislators representing part of the Birmingham area are trying to alter the qualifications for serving on the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB) and make the utility regional. That means the Alabama Gov. would gain the authority to appoint three of its members.

Birmingham Water Works is hiring another public relations firm, but a spokesperson said it wouldn't add to the approximately $200 million budget already approved for fiscal year 2023.

Birmingham Water Works may be looking to automate meter readings after a year of chaos in the utility due to meter reading issues, which the utility attributed in part to labor shortages.

The Birmingham Water Works will begin shutting off water for delinquents and resume collections for outstanding bills on Wednesday.