LIVE UPDATES: Birmingham Water Works Board facing restructuring law, discussion of sale, lawsuits
The Birmingham Water Works Board is facing restructuring from an Alabama law, is involved in lawsuits and the city of Birmingham has offered to purchase it.
Before the lawsuits were filed or the law was signed, the general manager of the board stated that the day-to-day operations of the board wouldn't affect customers and no one would experience disruptions to their service.
This is Alabama's largest water system, which serves five counties. The law and lawsuits are working to address management shortcomings with a restructured, balanced board.
You can read SB 330, which has been signed into law and watch the latest update in the video player above.
There are continuous updates to this story, and 米兰体育 13 is here to keep the residents of Birmingham aware.
>> 米兰体育 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for free
Live Updates:
Wednesday, May 14
8 P.M. - The new Birmingham Water Works Board meeting adjourned with two big decisions made. The board decided to wait on appointing board officers and, in a 5-2 vote, adopted a resolution rescinding the acceptance of the Birmingham City Council's offer to purchase the Birmingham Water Works Board's assets for $1. The board decided to a work session to get to know each other after the contentious meeting.
10 A.M. - The first meeting with the new Birmingham Water Works Board will take place tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 13
2:50 P.M. - Birmingham Water Works Board of Directors issues op-ed examining the work they were called to do over the last several years and what comes next, saying in part:
As we prepare to transition leadership, we do so knowing that we have left the Birmingham Water Works better than we found it. The utility is financially sound, operationally improved, and led by a team committed to excellence. The next board will inherit an organization strengthened by resolve, not weakened by politics.
To our employees: thank you for your hard work, resilience, and trust. To our customers: thank you for allowing us to serve you. To those who doubted our motives or questioned our integrity鈥攚e let our work speak louder than words. And we believe history will show that the work was worth it.
2 P.M. - Gov. Ivey appoints Jefferson County resident Thomas Hudson as director of the newly formed Birmingham Regional Water Board
Monday, May 12
4 P.M. - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has filed a response to Mayor Woodfin's lawsuit against Gov. Ivey, arguing that she does not enforce the law; she merely signed it. He also argues that the claims against her are barred by the Eleventh Amendment.
7 A.M. - The meeting was canceled. There is another meeting at 1 p.m.
6 A.M. - Birmingham City Council will meet at 9 a.m.
米兰体育 13 will keep you updated with information on-air and online from these meetings.
Thursday, May 8
11 A.M. - The Birmingham City Council voted to ratify the purchase of the BWWB. The meeting at 1 p.m. was cancelled.
SCHEDULED - The Birmingham City Council has three special called meetings set. Two are on Thursday (8:45 a.m. and 1 p.m.) and one is on Friday (1 p.m.). The details of the meetings have not been released.
米兰体育 13 will keep you updated with information on-air and online from these meetings.
Wednesday, May 7
FILED - A civil complaint was filed by Phillip R. Wiedmeyer, a member of the Regional Water Works System Board of Directors.
The case centers around Senate Bill 330 and names several defendants, including Birmingham鈥檚 mayor, city council members, former water board members, and the city itself.
Wiedmeyer is asking the court to confirm the law is constitutional, dissolve the old board, and make sure the new board appointments are legitimate. The complaint claims any actions by the old board after May 7 are invalid.
This ties into another lawsuit filed the day before, where some defendants are challenging the same law.
Read the full lawsuit .
8 P.M. - The Birmingham Water Works Board voted to authorize its chairwoman to move forward with a purchase agreement with the City of Birmingham on Wednesday.
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.
鈥淚f we move forward with the sale and took back, our took possession of the assets, then it would invalidate that law,鈥� City Council President Darrell O鈥橯uinn said.
Tuesday, May 6
8 P.M. - Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced a federal lawsuit against Ivey in an attempt to stop the bill's signing on Tuesday.
They are asking the governor not to sign the bill so it can be sent back to the legislature with "appropriate changes."
鈥淭wo wrongs don't make a right. And everything in SB330 on its face is unconstitutional,鈥� Woodfin said.
Within about an hour of announcing the lawsuit, City Council approved a resolution to buy the Water Works Board鈥檚 assets for $1.
鈥淚f we move forward with the sale and took back, or took possession of the assets, then it would invalidate that law,鈥� City Council President Darrell O鈥橯uinn 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."
4 P.M. - Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill officially restructuring the makeup of the Birmingham Water Works Board.
Friday, May 2
5 P.M. - The Birmingham Water Works Board sayscustomers will not be immediately impacted by the passing of a bill that revamps the makeup of the utility.
"We felt that it was important for our management team to share that the day-to-day operations of the Birmingham Water Works will not affect our customers, and they will not experience any disruptions with service," said BWWB General Manager Mac Underwood. "Our employees are continuing to assist our customers, and the system is moving forward with the infrastructure improvements we have been making over the last nine months."
Thursday, May 1
5:15 P.M. - The Alabama House has passed a bill which revamps the makeup of the Birmingham Water Works Board.
SB330 passed 69-29 after more than two hours of debate Thursday morning.
Wednesday, April 30
7 P.M. - For years, legislatures have tried to revamp the makeup of the Birmingham Water Works Board.
drafted 10 years ago, shows lawmakers have had time to beef up what they want to see in
Essentially, it鈥檚 all about power, who gets the most representation on the board.
Under the amended bill, there will now be eight regional board members instead of the five they wanted when the bill was originally drafted.
Birmingham's mayor, the city council of Birmingham, and the Jefferson County Commission will each get to appoint one person.
The governor and lieutenant governor will have a say, too, with one appointee each.
That's where both sides are getting into the power battle.
Thursday, April 24
5 P.M. - The Alabama Senate passes the amended water works restructuring bill 30 to 0. It now moves on to the Alabama House.
Three Alabama state legislators, Dan Roberts, Jabbo Waggoner and Shay Shellnut, who wrote Senate Bill 330, don't believe the Birmingham Water Works Board is doing a good job. General manager Mac Underwood says that's not true.
Underwood and some other members are back in the Magic City after pleading their case to state leaders in Montgomery, who want to change the way this board looks.
Birmingham residents, local elected leaders took a stance to speak against the bill while telling members to take note of what they believe, is the true motive behind SB 330.
Underwood says no matter what, he believes BWWB is making improvements with customer calls, replacing old underground pipes, and the budget.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Stay updated on the latest stories with the 米兰体育 13 app. You can download it here.