This week, a prominent local lobbyist was fired by the newly formed Birmingham regional water board, but a Montgomery-based lobbyist was retained.
Following a heated discussion and a split vote, the Jones Group’s contract—led by lobbyist Greg Jones—was canceled Monday night. One board member criticized the decision as unjust.
Jones’ contract was terminated by a vote of 4 to 2 of the Central Alabama Water (previously the Birmingham Water Works Board) board members. The vote was divided along racial, partisan, and geographic lines, with two Birmingham board members losing, as has been the case time and time again since the Alabama Legislature took over the utility.
The utility has two lobbying firms: Fine, Geddie & Associates, located in Montgomery, and the Jones Group. Each received $15,000 each month.
It was unjust to fire Jones, who has a presence in the Birmingham area, while keeping Fine, Geddie & Associates, a long-standing Montgomery-based firm, according to board member and Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson.
Because the Jones Group currently services both the city of Birmingham and the water works, board counsel Shan Paden said that the firm had an unresolvable conflict.
Jones, who was present at the board meeting, told AL.com that he would not comment. Jones has almost 20 years of experience in his field.
The vote followed the typical geographic and party trends. State Representative David Standridge, a Republican from Blount County, refrained from voting, and Tyson and Jarvis Patton, both Birmingham appointees, voted against terminating the contract.
Be fair, please. Tyson remarked, “We know the rabbit has the gun.” Get rid of everyone if you want to get rid of Jones.
The water utility and the city are still involved in a legal battle in federal court regarding the validity of a state law that altered the board’s composition and ended Birmingham’s hegemony, giving the city, which has historically controlled the utility and is home to the majority of its customers, only two votes.
In January, the old water works board agreed to hire both companies for a total of $360,000.The lobbyists, according to officials at the time, would aid in better conveying the company’s objective to politicians and consumers.
But that was before a comprehensive statute was approved by the government that completely altered the utility, forced them out of office, and installed the current board of directors.
As a board, shouldn’t we try to remedy that issue? Patton inquired. I simply support due process.
Patton moved to postpone action until further conflict information was obtained. The plan was rejected by a vote.
Partially agreeing with Tyson, board member Bill Morris stated that he would vote to terminate the agreement with Fine and Geddie when it is up for renewal at the end of the year.
Morris also serves as Leeds Water Works’ general manager.
Regarding terminating the company’s contract, Morris stated, “I swear to you, when Fine and Geddie are up on January 1st, I’m voting yes for them.” We only provide water for sale. We sell water to all of these lobbyists.
In other business, the authority reduced the monthly charge to $18,000 by halving its agreement with communications company Direct Communications.
The company paid $138,000 in legal costs from three firms for July, while the water board closed the pocketbook for some of its contractors and opened the checkbook for others.
Stories by
Joseph D. Bryant
-
Controversial $14 billion data center proposal delayed again by Bessemer council
-
Birmingham mayor s race heats up over proposed state police takeover bill
-
Birmingham entrepreneur builds $100 million firm after brother s murder
-
Birmingham mayor candidates complain about debate snub: Money doesn t vote
-
What is the Randemic ? Birmingham mayor capitalizes on opponent s debate insult
