General
The City of Birmingham is still legally challenging a state law that took effect May 7 regionalizing the Birmingham Water Works Board, but on Tuesday took action to name its two representatives to the new 7-member board.
The City Council named Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson as its representative to the board. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin named Jarvis Patton, a former aide to previous Birmingham Mayor William Bell, as his pick for the board.
“It’s important for the city to have representation in any of those conversations,” said Birmingham City Council President Darrell O’Quinn. “Under duress, we feel our hand’s being forced. We want the citizens of Birmingham represented in any discussions of them and their water board.”
The Birmingham City Council also passed a resolution opposing any amendments to the certificate of incorporation for the Water Works Board.
The city filed a lawsuit against Gov. Kay Ivey on May 6 asking her not to sign the bill into law. She did anyway, but O’Quinn said he still expects a hearing in federal court on Thursday.
Chief U.S. District Judge Emily C. Marks set a hearing for May 15 on the request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.
The new regional Birmingham water works board is now fully assembled a day before its first planned meeting on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Gov. Ivey appointed Thomas C. Hudson Jr. of Mountain Brook to the board.
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth appointed Bill Morris, general manager of Leeds Water Works.
The Shelby County Commission appointed Jeffery Brumlow, an attorney and former county commissioner.
Blount County appointed State Rep. David Standridge, a retired police captain.
Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens appointed an engineer, Phillip R. Wiedmeyer, to the new regional board.
Wiedmeyer, acting in his capacity as board member, filed a federal lawsuit in response to the City of Birmingham’s lawsuit, declaring that the former Water Works Board was terminated, and asking U.S. District Court to stop the former board from taking any action after May 7.
Tyson stressed that she did not ask for the position, but was asked to accept the position.“I can’t talk about other public officials not fighting for or helping people and get an opportunity to sit at the table and fight for them where I just might be able to make a difference,” she said. “If I turned it down, that would make me a hypocrite.”
Tyson noted the political realities of being just one of two representatives from Birmingham.
“I’m a county commissioner, but I am a citizen in the community and I am concerned about the people,” Tyson told Al.com after her selection to the board. “I come from a background of people caring about each other. I’ve always had the interest of the citizens on my mind. I will represent them well.”
The new law that regionalizes the Birmingham Water Works Board would give more power to suburban areas.
Under the new law the structure of the Birmingham Water Works Board will change, creating a seven-member authority dominated by appointees from outside the city of Birmingham and reducing the city’s seats to two. Birmingham had controlled six of the nine seats on the former board.
“I live in the real world but I will let them know everything that’s going on,” Tyson said. “I will do Zoom calls, town hall, whatever I need to do to let them know what’s transpiring. Don’t look for major changes because we’re still two to five.”
Patton, appointed by Woodfin, said it will be an honor to serve on the board.
“To me it is both and honor and privilege to be asked to serve, and that the system has enabled me to turn to the political arena when I can be of benefit to the citizens of Birmingham,” Patton said.
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