Legislative Report State Senator Rodger Smitherman District 18
As we pass the midway point of the 2014 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature, Birmingham lawmakers continue efforts to protect one of our regions’ most valuable assets from the attempts of others who want to rob control of our future.
The Birmingham Water Works serves more than 600,000 customers and operates more than 4,000 miles of pipeline. It is no secret that he who controls the water, shapes the destiny of a people. For this reason, I have stood firm during debate in the Alabama Senate over bills that would alter the composition of the Birmingham Water Works Board. Unfortunately this bill made it out of the Senate on Tuesday, March 11. My colleagues in the House will continue the fight to protect our Birmingham Water Works.
Here are just a few of the many reasons we should protect control of the Birmingham Water Works:
It provides untreated water to several major businesses and industries, contributing to the economic growth of the Birmingham area.
It provides free water for fire protection in over 33 municipalities and fire departments.
The Birmingham Water Works has consistently achieved the rating of the number five water system in the country for water quality.
The Birmingham Water Works Board spends more than 75 million dollars annually for capital improvements to maintain and meet state and federal standards.
The Senate Majority Leader first proposed a bill that would take control of the Water Works Board and give it to those who do not live in Jefferson County. During sessions in the week of March 3, this same senator offered what he called a “compromise” that would still take away control. Those proposed changes were not received favorably by my constituents, so I have worked with other area lawmakers of like mind to defeat this senator’s proposals to dismantle this institution. This is just another attempt to take away institutions that are controlled by Birmingham.
It’s unfair to give board seats to outside counties that have fewer customers and were only added to the system under a “Good Samaritan” action to provide service to hard-to-reach areas in Blount and Walker counties. This is really not right. There’s nothing right about what’s being asked to be done.
I have no problem with changes such as board pay reductions, but that should be handled locally. I do have a problem with touching the board, the makeup and the appointing authority.
My commitment to the residents of Senate District 18 and the people of Birmingham is that I will work every day on their behalf. I want to defeat any proposal that would strip away the authority of Birmingham leaders to operate a utility that has been bought and built with OUR hard-earned dollars.
While the fight to maintain Birmingham control of the Water Works has demanded much of my attention so far this session, I remain vigilant on several other issues affecting the residents of District 18 including raises for teachers, the expansion of Medicaid and passage of state budgets that offer the best for all of Alabama.
