New Orleans City Council to oversee Sewerage and Water Board starting Aug. 1
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) — A new law taking effect Aug. 1 will shift oversight of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board from state legislators to the New Orleans City Council, and council members are already calling for changes at the top of the agency.
Council President JP Morrell said the council is trying to help the Sewerage and Water Board save itself.
“The head of the SWB makes a half a million dollars. That’s more than the head of all state departments. The only public official that makes more than half a million dollars a year is LSU football coaches, and I’m going to tell you, we fired LSU football coaches for less than the job Randy Hayman’s done in the last six months,” Morrell said.
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The change comes after flooding and pump failures this month, a boil water advisory issued Saturday, a court settlement over French Quarter construction projects, and billing and customer service complaints that have lingered for years.
Council Vice President Matthew Willard said the new authority will allow the council to examine the agency’s finances in ways it previously could not.
“So when the SWB says the rates aren’t enough to do the job we need to do, we can open up their books, we can see what they’re spending money on, we can see how much their contracts are for, and then we can make a decision,” Willard said.
Councilmember Jason Hughes said the law creates a new level of accountability for the agency.
“So now there’s going to be a new level of accountability,” Hughes said.
After Aug. 1, city leaders will be able to demand action and investigate issues as they arise — not only when the state legislature is in session. The council said that would be unprecedented oversight in the utility’s nearly 130-year history.
New Orleans resident Manny Jaramillo said he hopes the change improves basic services.
“I would really like tap water to be accessible to everybody and that people could just drink out of it and not have to worry about it being potentially dangerous,” Jaramillo said.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno serves as president of the Sewerage and Water Board. When asked whether she plans to keep the current leadership at the utility, the mayor’s office did not answer that question directly but provided a statement.
“The mayor’s priority is making sure the Sewerage and Water Board delivers for the people of New Orleans. That means strengthening accountability, improving transparency, and using the city’s new authority to drive real results,” the statement said.
A Sewerage and Water Board representative was not available for comment.
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