Lashunda Scales expressed confusion Thursday when a resolution supporting Senate Bill 179 was tabled.

The bill was said to affirm the actions taken Tuesday when the Jefferson County Commission approved its billing agreement with the Birmingham Water Works Board.

During Thursday’s commission meeting, Steve Ammons moved that the resolution be tabled to get more information. Scales said she didn’t understand why that action was taken.

“This item initially was all about making sure that we’re in support of our own bill, which would cover actual costs to ratepayers versus the fee that we’ve been paying in addition to an administrative fee,” Scales said, adding that those fees have cost the county between $15 million and $16 million.

“We either want the ratepayers to win – and that’s what we say verbally – or we’re going to work to make sure that’s what’s actually happening intentionally,” Scales continued.

Joe Knight, who chaired the meeting in the absence of President Jimmie Stephens, said the bill was created when there was no agreement with the Water Works Board. Scales countered that the bill would maintain the county’s billing relationship with the utility even if the Birmingham Water Works doesn’t renew the 5-year contract.

“We also need to know what we’re up against as relates to the sewer bond debt that has to be refinanced this year,” she said. “Districts one and two, commission districts, will be heavily impacted by whatever that is done. At the end of the day, it is about us working together collaboratively. By the same token, we have to be responsible for the county and county ratepayers.”

In an unrelated item, Scales said a town hall meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. April 24 at the Dr. Perry W. Ward Alabama Center for Advanced Technology and Training on the Birmingham campus of Lawson State Community College. That meeting concerns House Bill 177, which addresses the restructuring of the Birmingham Water Works Board.

Scales also quizzed Ammons about a $3,643.55 travel expense for his trip to the Paris Airshow in Paris, France, June 16-23. That is being paid from the county’s economic development fund.

Ammons said he is traveling with representatives from the City of Birmingham. He added that the county is working to support Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport on some opportunities. Scales ultimately moved that item, which passed unanimously.