Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB) chairwoman Tereshia Huffman defended the utility’s existing leadership in a statement released this week in response to efforts by state representatives to overhaul the board’s current structure.

“As the Chairwoman of the Board, I can confidently say that the current composition of our board represents the diverse service area we serve,” Huffman wrote in the statement.

“We have prioritized ensuring that our board reflects our community and that our decisions are made with their best interests in mind. Additionally, we take great pride in transparency with our customers and stakeholders and are committed to maintaining our sound financial strength.”

Huffman was responding to a bill (House Bill 177) introduced in Alabama’s House of Representatives that would convert BWWB to a seven-member regional board (there are currently nine), giving Birmingham’s mayor the authority to make four appointments with the governor appointing the remaining three.

Per the board’s current bylaws four BWWB members are appointed by the Birmingham City Council, two by the Birmingham mayor, and one each by the Jefferson County Mayors Association, the Shelby County Commission, and Blount County Commission.