Monday, August 25, 2008

Jefferson County Commission Seeks Public Referendum

The Jefferson County Commission will vote today on a new option in dealing with its sewer-debt crisis - letting residents decide Nov. 4 in a nonbinding referendum how the Jefferson County should tackle the problem.

Jefferson County voters, under a resolution the commissioners will consider in a 10 a.m. special meeting today, would be asked several advisory questions on a ballot in the coming election. Those include whether:

They favor a Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy filing by Jefferson County.

Jefferson County should sell the sewer system to the Retirement Systems of Alabama.

All Jefferson County residents, or only sewer customers, should help pay for the sewer system debt.

A majority of the Jefferson County Commission voted last week to extend its overdue sewer bond debt payments through November and pay creditors $44 million as part of the agreement.

Meanwhile, 150 residents and at least six area mayors turned out for the Wednesday night public forum with Carns and Commissioner Bobby Humphryes at the Bessemer Civic Center.

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