New Waterworks Board meets for the first time

May 15, 2025 – BIRMINGHAM, AL – The new members of the Birmingham Water Works Board met for the first time. After decades of incompetence and corruption, the Alabama Legislature abolished the old board and created a new regional water utility outside the control of both the old board and the City of Birmingham.

Senate Bill 330 (SB330) was sponsored by State Senator Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) and carried in the Alabama House of Representatives by State Representative Jim Carns (R-Vestavia Hills).

Governor Kay Ivey (R) signed SB 330 into law last week.

The old, discredited Board members retaliated later that night by selling off all the assets of the Board to the City of Birmingham for one dollar; but that sale likely exceeded their authority.

On Monday, the new Board voted 5 to 2 to invalidate that sale – as the old Board had been legally dissolved hours prior when the Governor signed SB330 into law.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin appointed Jarvis Patton. Patton was formerly the Chief of Operation for the Birmingham Mayor's office. He also was the City Council Administrator for the City.

The Shelby County Commission appointed municipal attorney Jeff Brumlow from Hoover.

Gov. Ivey appointed Mountain Brook businessman Tommy Hudson.

Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth appointed former Moody Mayor Bill Morris. He is the General Manager of the Leeds Water Works.

The Jefferson County Commission selected Phillip Wiedmeyer. Wedemeyer is a retired civil engineer for the Alabama Power Company.

The Blount County Commission chose State Rep. David Standridge (R-Hayden).

The Birmingham City Council selected Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson (D).

The new Board has to potentially deal with a lawsuit being brought by Mayor Woodfin challenging the law.

Mac Underwood is the General Manager of the Birmingham Water Works. He has said that he and the employees look "forward to working with the new board members. We will be transparent, provide board members with the information they request in a timely manner and help them understand our operations. We remain committed to providing clean, high-quality water to every customer in our five-county service area."

The Board voted to approve pension payments and set bi-monthly meetings on the first and third Mondays of the month. Work sessions will be on Thursdays.

The City of Birmingham has been in a precipitous decline since the Civil Rights Movement riots in 1963. The rest of the region, however, has been steadily growing – especially to the south in Hoover and Shelby County. Just 24 percent of the population who gets their water from Birmingham actually lives within the City limits of Birmingham. The Birmingham Waterworks serves customers in five counties and dozens of municipalities.

"Governor Ivey made the wrong call by signing HB445," said Mayor Woodfin on social media. "Folks who backed this bill now own what comes next - lost jobs, shuttered businesses, and millions in lost revenue. I hope it's challenged in court and/or fixed in the Legislature as soon as possible next session. Alabama deserves better than this."

The new Board tabled the appointment of officers after members complained that they needed more time to consider the appointments.