ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsJeffCo sewer receiver fighting for control of system

The battle over who will control Jefferson County's sewer is now before a federal bankruptcy judge. Receiver John Young is fighting for his job. He says he's the only person employed by the county with the ability to oversee the sewer.

But the bankruptcy filing suspends Young's power.

Commission President David Carrington told the judge sewer employee David Denard could run the system with help from County Manager Tony Petelos.

Young disagreed said not even Denard was capable of carrying out his sewer plan.

The receiver's plan to pay off the more than three billion dollar sewer debt includes operational, employee and revenue changes. Young testified his leadership has brought employee maintenance training for the first time and increased revenues by $300 million. Revenues would include sewer rate increases coupled with additional charges, like a clean water fee for every county resident, non-user fees, and higher charges for dumping waste at treatment facilities.

Young said at one point during settlement negotiations, he was looking at rate increases of 6.5 percent plus some additional charges if one billion dollars of the debt was forgiven.

Commissioners say they're concerned about 25 percent sewer rate hikes mentioned by Young's summer report, Young's $500 fee, and the lack of a low income assistance fund.

"We can run this county, and we can run this sewer department with the men we have. We don't have to pay the extra million a year," said Commissioner Joe Knight.

County attorney Jeff Sewell and Commissioner Sandra Little Brown took the stand Monday evening. Brown says for the most part Young has done an "outstanding job" as Receiver, but says she has disagreed with him on two points. First, she disagrees with a 25 percent increase in sewer rates. Secondly, she has disagreed with the funding for the low income assistance program.

The hearing ended just before 6:00 p.m., Monday. It is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning.

Commissioner Jimmie Stephens is expected to testify.