Birmingham authorizes purchase of water works board

Birmingham Water Works Board authorizes sale to city as Gov. Ivey signs 'unconstitutional' restructuring bill

SEVEN DAY. ALL RIGHT, JASON, WELL, DEVELOPING NEWS FROM THE BIRMINGHAM WATER WORKS BOARD TONIGHT, APPROVING THE CITY’S MOTION TO BUY IT BACK. THAT DECISION WAS MADE DURING A SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING JUST A FEW HOURS AGO. WHILE MOST OF THAT TIME WAS SPENT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE BOARD ULTIMATELY VOTED 5 TO 2 IN FAVOR OF LETTING CHAIRWOMAN TERESA HUFFMAN EXECUTE THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH THE BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL. THAT DEAL WILL GIVE THE CITY, THE CITY, THE WATER WORKS AND ALL OF ITS ASSETS JUST FOR $1. THE GOAL WAS ORIGINALLY TO GET AROUND SENATE BILL 330, WHICH WAS ULTIMATELY SIGNED BY GOVERNOR IVEY. TODAY, SB 330 CUTS DOWN THE BOARD’S APPOINTMENTS AND REBRANDS THEM AS A REGIONAL BOARD INSTEAD. THIS RECENTLY PROMPTED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT FROM THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM IN HOPES OF PREVENTING THESE CHANGES. WE HEARD FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER SHEILA TYSON TONIGHT WHO SAYS THIS LEGISLATION IS A FIGHT SHE’S WILLING TO TAKE UP FOR THE PEOPLE SHE REPRESENTS. I’M NOT GOING TO STOP FIGHTING, BECAUSE WHEN YOU FIGHT, I’M FIGHTING FOR THE CITIZENS HERE IN BIRMINGHAM. MY CITIZENS THAT DEPEND ON ME DESERVE TO BE REPRESENTED ON THIS BOARD. IT’S OUR WATER SYSTEM. BIRMINGHAM WATER SYSTEM. IN A STATEMENT, THE WATERWORKS BOARD SAYS THE ACTIONS TAKEN TONIGHT WILL ENSURE ALL OF THE CUSTOMERS WILL CONTINUE TO FEEL THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE OVER THE LAST TEN MONTHS, ADDING THEY REMAIN COMMITTED TO LEADING THEIR CUSTOMERS ETHICALLY AND WITH RESPECT. THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO SPEAKING TONIGHT ABOUT SB 330, SAYING THE EFFECTS OF THIS LAW WILL NOT LOWER WATER RATES BUT INSTEAD DESTROY YEARS OF PROGRESS AND CREATE A HUGE SETBACK FOR THE REGION. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THREE SPECIAL CALLED MEETINGS SET TO DISCUSS THE ACTIONS SURROUNDING THE BOARD. THE FIRST MEETING WILL GET UNDERWAY TOMORROW MORNING AT 845. THE OTHER TWO ARE S

Birmingham Water Works Board authorizes sale to city as Gov. Ivey signs 'unconstitutional' restructuring bill

The Birmingham Water Works Board voted to authorize its chairwoman to move forward with a purchase agreement with the City of Birmingham on Wednesday.This comes after Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill that would restructure the board earlier the same day.The board voted 5-2 on Wednesday to authorize Chairwoman Tereshia Huffman to execute the agreement, which was approved by the Birmingham City Council on Tuesday."This is a complicated process with a lot of moving parts, but the board voted to move forward with continued discussions with city officials to make this a reality," the Birmingham Water Works Board said in a statement.As of Wednesday night, the city and the board are "still in active negotiations." The city hopes the moves can throw a wrench in legislation's potential impact.“If we move forward with the sale and took back, our took possession of the assets, then it would invalidate that law,�� City Council President Darrell O’Quinn said.>> Previous Coverage: Get the facts on the bill that would restructure the boardA lawsuitBirmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced a federal lawsuit against Ivey in an attempt to stop the bill's signing on Tuesday.“Two wrongs don't make a right. And everything in SB330 on its face is unconstitutional,�� Woodfin said.Ivey's office issued the following response to the lawsuit Tuesday afternoon:"We are aware of the lawsuit and are reviewing this highly unusual attempt to stop the governor from signing a bill passed by the legislature." Previous coverage below: Leaders react to push to restructure Birmingham Water Works Board

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

The Birmingham Water Works Board voted to authorize its chairwoman to move forward with a purchase agreement with the City of Birmingham on Wednesday.

This comes after Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill that would restructure the board earlier the same day.

The board voted 5-2 on Wednesday to authorize Chairwoman Tereshia Huffman to execute the agreement, which was approved by the Birmingham City Council on Tuesday.

"This is a complicated process with a lot of moving parts, but the board voted to move forward with continued discussions with city officials to make this a reality," the Birmingham Water Works Board said in a statement.

As of Wednesday night, the city and the board are "still in active negotiations."

The city hopes the moves can throw a wrench in legislation's potential impact.

“If we move forward with the sale and took back, our took possession of the assets, then it would invalidate that law,�� City Council President Darrell O’Quinn said.

>> Previous Coverage: Get the facts on the bill that would restructure the board

A lawsuit

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced a federal lawsuit against Ivey in an attempt to stop the bill's signing on Tuesday.

“Two wrongs don't make a right. And everything in SB330 on its face is unconstitutional,�� Woodfin said.

Ivey's office issued the following response to the lawsuit Tuesday afternoon:

"We are aware of the lawsuit and are reviewing this highly unusual attempt to stop the governor from signing a bill passed by the legislature."

Previous coverage below: Leaders react to push to restructure Birmingham Water Works Board

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Birmingham Water Works Board authorizes sale to city as Gov. Ivey signs 'unconstitutional' restructuring bill

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