Moody wants water system back

Moody and St. Clair County leaders said Monday that they are united in their plan to separate themselves from the Birmingham Water Works Board and reclaim their own independent water system.  The plan includes yet another House bill to extend the Birmingham Water Works Board to include five new members. St. Clair County is hopeful those members would agree to sell the Birmingham-owned Moody water system back to the city of Moody.  Rep. Jim McClendon, R-St. Clair and Shelby Counties, outlined his HB 482 and its intent monday at a meeting with St. Clair leaders.  McClendon hopes the new non-Birmingham board members, including one from St. Clair County, would be more willing to sell the Moody system back to Moody. Once independence is achieved, then the St. Clair members would leave the Birmingham board. Birmingham bought the Moody system in 1991. Now Moody wants it back.  Everyone in the room agreed to McClendon's strategy, with several planning to attend a committee hearing on the bill Wednesday in Montgomery. McClendon is chairman of the Heath Committee, which will hear his bill.