Birmingham, AL - A new Jefferson County citizens based organization says it has a way to tackle the billion dollar sewer debt without raising taxes. The name of the group is Jeffco Can and it held its first news conference at Birmingham's Summit Club to explain how the county can get itself out from under the sewer debt burden. There is only one thing that's not on the table and that's bankruptcy. Slade Blackwell, the groups founder, says, "Chapter 9 is totally different in a municipal bankruptcy and you've got a lot of issues you've got to deal with. First the debt does not get resolved, it gets stretched out over time." Blackwell brought some friends with him including former county commissioner George Bowman who said the county should use the excess from the 1 cent education sales tax to pay that debt down, but he also says there's a hitch. "Right now it is tied to the school board and school construction in order to use that money for anything other than that the legislature has to rule."

Bowman was joined by Birmingham Businessman Robert Kelly who believes state and county lawmakers understand they are under a microscope. Kelly says, "they realize that we're watching what's goes on and we certainly want he type of representation in the commissioners office and our state lawmakers that understand the importance of making this succeed,  and also understand the importance that we don't want to see a bankruptcy here in our county."

The group has a web site, jeffcocan.com. It outlines its plan to reduce the debt as well as providing information. Even County Commission President Bettye Fine Collins thinks this is a good idea. "It's about time. I think it's a wonderful move. Certainly we have lacked the strong support of the corporate community in this county and it could have save us a lot of grief."

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