Water board saga continues with hearing

WALA TV

Updated: Feb 21, 2013 4:38 PM

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) — A judge ruled earlier this week that the Prichard Water Board will be dissolved and that Mobile Area Water and Sewer will take over, but the board isn't going down without a fight.

"They feel that the Prichard Water Board is well-run, may not have been in the long-term past and a lot of the issues related to Prichard are past issues and not this present board," said Water Board attorney Jay Ross.

Ross said all five board members want to continue with an appeal. In November, Alabamians voted to dissolve the board and transfer service to Mobile Area Water and Sewer. In all, this battle has been going on for more than a year. Two attorneys have represented the board, collectively costing the board thousands.

"I'm sure $50,000 to $75,000. I haven't seen the numbers, but I bet today it would be at least that amount," Ross said.

Ross said the board members feel as though customers won't see rates go down if MAWSS takes over. Prichard customers have been complaining for years about high bills some over a thousand dollars. Residents of Prichard said the vote that MAWSS won tells all, and there shouldn't be any argument.

Ross said there is a hearing set for Friday morning in Mobile where he will ask that the judge not dissolve the Prichard Water Board until it has a chance to appeal to the Supreme Court. That hearing is set for 10 a.m.

Ross said after the hearing he will once again meet with the board to see if members want to appeal to the Supreme Court, but he said, at this time, it's very likely.

FOX10 News will be at Friday's hearing.

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