The board of the new regional entity formerly known as the Birmingham Water Works quickly took shape and is preparing to go DOGE on its predecessor’s financial moves.

The agenda for its initial meeting Wednesday evening, obtained by AL.com, shows the new seven-member board may quickly dissect the employment contracts approved by the previous nine-member board at its May 6 meeting, as well as grants awarded and payments to consultants made in the last 24 months.

The yet-to-be renamed regional board is also slated to address the approval of a purchase agreement to sell the water works assets, valued at $1.6 billion, to the city of Birmingham for one dollar. The prior board voted 5- 2 (two members were absent) for the agreement at a special-called board meeting on Wednesday, May 7, a few hours after Gov. Kay Ivey signed SB330 into law.

The law created the new board and shifted the power from Birmingham (which controlled 6 seats on the previous board) to areas outside the county where the vast majority of water works customers reside.

Birmingham controls only two seats on the new board, with the mayor and city council each having one appointment.

On Tuesday, the city council unanimously approved the appointment of Sheila Tyson to the new board. Tyson, a member of the Jefferson County Commission and a BWWB customer who resides in Jefferson County, said she did not ask for the appointment but was approached for the role by the council.

“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.”

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin appointed Jarvis Patton, chief of staff under former Mayor William Bell, to the board.

“To me, it is both an 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 a benefit to the citizens of Birmingham,” Patton said.

Retired engineer Phillip Wiedmeyer was appointed by Jefferson County Commission chair Jimmie Stephens.

Gov. Ivey’s office appointed Thomas C. Hudson, Jr. Her office said in a press release that Hudson “has a general business background.”

Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth appointed Bill Morris, longtime Leeds Water Works general manager. Morris will represent St. Clair County, which is not mentioned in the new law but is allowed since the water works also services that area.

“It’s just an honor being appointed by the lieutenant governor,” Morris said Thursday.

Shelby County appointed Jeffery Brumlow, an attorney and former county commissioner; and Blount County appointed retired police captain and state Rep. David Standridge.

Here’s the regional board’s preliminary agenda for May 14, 2025:

A. Comprehensive set of policies

B. Unaudited financial and operating reports

C. Long-term debt schedule and debt service requirements

D. Employment contracts approved on May 6, 2025

E. Grant recipients last 24 months

F. Consultant (lawyers, lobbyists, communications, and other consultants) payments last 24 months

G. Asset transfer resolution

Also to be addressed are retirement packages for three employees and a surviving spouse; and Mulberry Intake Emergency Transformer and electrical repairs.