Some city leaders are outraged over the possibility that Jefferson County may start charging fees to people not on the sewer system. Either way, the county commission claims the cities of Jefferson County owe them big money.
Graysville mayor, Doug Brewer, is not too happy with the thought of Jefferson County charging a non-user fee to his residents, for one reason in particular.
"It's illegal for governmental entities to use, or more importantly, private or public entities to come in and charge our citizens any kind of fee or tax," says Brewer.
He calls it ‘Taxation without Representation.’
Meanwhile, the county commissioners claim that the various cities owe the county hundreds of thousands of dollars. They say it's time to pay up!
"We would not be in this sewer crisis today if we had not taken on all the sewers of the cities and towns and absorbed all the costs,’' says Commission President, Bettye Fine Collins.
"We basically have given them a pass, and by getting involved in this means that pass is up! We'll be starting that collection process immediately," says Commissioner Shelia Smoot.
As for that debt situation, Mayor Brewer says Graysville does not owe the county; the county owes Graysville. Thursday afternoon, the mayor personally delivered a letter to the commission outlining that his city has paid all debts through property and sales tax.
"We've paid every dime that we've ever owed them for any street paving or anything. So, send us the bill and we'll pay it if it's justified,'’ Mayor Brewer adds.
