Relief From High Water Rates?

Alabama Mobile Prichard contracts out water services.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Thu, September 17, 2009 - 9:08 pm CST Last Updated: Thu, September 17, 2009 - 9:28 pm CST

PRICHARD, Alabama - People in Prichard who pay $80 to $90 or more for water each month may be getting some relief.
That's the word from the Prichard Waterworks and Sewer Board after board members voted to contract out all of its day-to-day operations to a Pennsylvania company.
But not everyone is so sure there will be savings.
The board voted unanimously Thursday afternoon to approve a ten year, $78 million contract with the Severn Trent Water company from Pennsylvania.
Water Board Attorney Willie Huntley said, "I believe that there won't be any rate increases for at least three years and, I think after that three year period, there will be or could be some savings if they realize that's going to reduce customer bills."
When asked how the company might be able to save $14 million over ten years, Terry Duffy with Severn Trent Water said, "At this time, I'd rather not comment. We're just happy that we're going to provide an excellent service to the city of Prichard."
But Severia Morris with the group Concerned Citizens of Prichard doubts the money savings.
She said, "I don't think that that's true. I don't think its realistic at all."
Morris also believes the board should have awarded the contract to MAWSS, the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System.
She said, "We buy our water from MAWSS, so common sense would tell Mr. Huntley and the board that there's automatically a savings there because that cuts out the middleman."
But Huntley said, "We looked at what MAWSS would offer and I believe that the savings that were offered by MAWSS wouldn't meet the savings that would be generated with the contract with Severn Trent."
Morris said her group plans to go to court to stop the transfer to Severn Trent.

WKRG.com » News Stream » Alabama

Video
Photo

Embed:

WKRG.com Related

News –› Alabama

News –› Mobile

News –› Prichard

Discuss this in the forum

Email to a Friend

Printer Friendly

Download Video

Page 1 of 2 pages 1 2 >

cmb1 Says:

Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 10:28 am

The city leaders probably got a kick back for using this Co. maybe Tyson DA should look into all of Prichards dealings. For the citizens!

Alabama Patriot Says:

Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 9:58 am

Obviously, the city water board and the city leaders are not interested in getting the water/sewer bills lowered. Apparently there was very little effort put into looking for a solution that would both benefit the city and the people. By using the exact same company that they have had all along, they prove to the world that what they want takes priority over the needs of the community that they serve. Too bad that the people will suffer. Maybe the people ought to move away and then the city leaders may pay attention. Probably not - it may take a court order to force the Prichard city mayor and leadership to find a cheaper way out for the residents. Bankruptcy may be the answer both for the city and for the people that live there (and have to put up with shoddy city management). JMO

cmb1 Says:

Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 9:52 am

And that is the portion that is so high? Sounds like they just sold there customers to the devil..

Bikermike Says:

Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 8:41 am

Severn Trent has been over the sewer portion of prichard for time now

cmb1 Says:

Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 8:33 am

I don’t know if anyone has noticed but when you get off the I-110 interchange going to the cochran bridge there is Severn Trent Big water or sewer tanks? I think they might have been envolved all along?

Alabama Patriot Says:

Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 7:59 am

I suppose that the new company will be cutting a lot of people’s water/sewer off and that is how the city will save the money?? You also know that the cost of paying the new company will be passed on to the residents in one way or another.

carl Says:

Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 7:55 am

I thought that applied also to what the board is doing to their citizens of Prichard.Bout time for the water board to change chickens.

BamaBob Says:

Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 7:09 am

Follow the money….....

BamaBob Says:

Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 7:07 am

Plucking that chicken! LOL When I first read that story this morning, I couldn’t understand why the reporter would tell a weather guy to do that to a chicken. The look on the other reporter’s face was priceless!

carl Says:

Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 5:48 am

And the board keeps PLUCKING that chicken!