A legislative committee has approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Jim McClendon that would allow St. Clair County to be represented on the Birmingham Water Works Board.

The House Health Committee, which McClendon chairs, has sent the bill to the Rules Committee, which will determine if it will be placed on the calendar for a vote by the full house.  McClendon said he has worked with Reps. Randy Woods and Mack Butler to prepare the measure.

“Basically, this would give any county served by the Birmingham Water Works Board representation on it,” McClendon said.  “Primarily, that would include St. Clair, Shelby, Walker, and Blount.  This bill will let those areas have a voice about their own needs and give them the right to control their own growth.”

If the legislature approves the bill, the board would expand from five members to nine.  McClendon said it could particularly benefit the City of Moody, which bought its system from Birmingham in more than five years ago.

Opposition to the proposal has come from Jefferson County legislators and water works officials, who have said that the county should retain control of the board since it contains the majority of its customers.

The board has come under recent scrutiny, with an internal report released this week finding more than 200 deficiencies at the Birmingham facility.