Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signs Senate Bill 330, reshaping the Birmingham Water Works Board
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed a bill officially restructuring the makeup of the Birmingham Water Works Board.Video below: Explaining Senate Bill 330SB330 passed 69-29 after more than two hours of debate last Thursday. It passed the Alabama Senate in a unanimous vote the week prior Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin held a news conference along with the city council Tuesday morning, announcing a federal lawsuit against Ivey in an attempt to stop the bill’s signing.“Two wrongs don’t make a right. And everything in SB330 on its face is unconstitutional,” Woodfin said.The lawsuit argues that since more than 40 percent of Water Works customers live in Birmingham, limiting the city’s authority to a fourth of the board is discriminatory.“Works to highjack control of the Birmingham Water Works Board from the majority black city of Birmingham with flagrant disregard for the voting rights of the city plaintiffs,” the lawsuit read.Ivey’s office issued the following response to the lawsuit Tuesday afternoon:”We are aware of the lawsuit and are reviewing this highly unusual attempt to stop the governor from signing a bill passed by the legislature.”The board held its own meeting in response to the bill on Tuesday, taking preemptive measures to protect several positions.After almost an hour and a half in an executive session, new contracts and extended contracts were approved for six high-level managers.The board responded to Woodfin’s lawsuit with the following statement:”This morning, the Mayor and the Birmingham City Council filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order against the Governor and Attorney General of Alabama related to SB 330.While our executive team and board of directors are currently reviewing the suit, the BWWB agrees with the legitimate concerns raised during this morning’s press conference. We support Mayor Woodfin and the Council’s position in this matter.Details related to a possible transfer of assets between the Birmingham Water Works Board and the City of Birmingham are being evaluated.”The city council has approved a resolution to buy the Water Works Board’s assets for $1. They hope the moves can throw a wrench in legislation’s potential impact.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed a bill officially restructuring the makeup of the Birmingham Water Works Board.
Video below: Explaining Senate Bill 330
SB330 passed 69-29 after more than two hours of debate last Thursday. It passed the Alabama Senate in a unanimous vote the week prior
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin held a news conference along with the city council Tuesday morning, announcing a federal lawsuit against Ivey in an attempt to stop the bill’s signing.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right. And everything in SB330 on its face is unconstitutional,” Woodfin said.
The lawsuit argues that since more than 40 percent of Water Works customers live in Birmingham, limiting the city’s authority to a fourth of the board is discriminatory.
“Works to highjack control of the Birmingham Water Works Board from the majority black city of Birmingham with flagrant disregard for the voting rights of the city plaintiffs,” the lawsuit read.
Ivey’s office issued the following response to the lawsuit Tuesday afternoon:
“We are aware of the lawsuit and are reviewing this highly unusual attempt to stop the governor from signing a bill passed by the legislature.”
The board held its own meeting in response to the bill on Tuesday, taking preemptive measures to protect several positions.
After almost an hour and a half in an executive session, new contracts and extended contracts were approved for six high-level managers.
The board responded to Woodfin’s lawsuit with the following statement:
“This morning, the Mayor and the Birmingham City Council filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order against the Governor and Attorney General of Alabama related to SB 330.
While our executive team and board of directors are currently reviewing the suit, the BWWB agrees with the legitimate concerns raised during this morning’s press conference. We support Mayor Woodfin and the Council’s position in this matter.
Details related to a possible transfer of assets between the Birmingham Water Works Board and the City of Birmingham are being evaluated.”
The city council has approved a resolution to buy the Water Works Board’s assets for $1. They hope the moves can throw a wrench in legislation’s potential impact.